The Eutelsat 25b/Es’hail 1 satellite. Photo: SSL

[Via Satellite 12-31-2014] Starting Jan. 1, 2015 Al-Jazeera Media Network plans to begin broadcasting on the Es’hail 1 satellite, owned by Qatari satellite company Es’hailSat, to reach the full Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The formal switch follows a year of successful dual illumination using Es’hail 1 satellite capacity and uplink facilities.

Al-Jazeera Media Network intends to broadcast existing channels as well as potential new channel bundles using Es’hail 1 at 25.5 degrees east. Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, CEO of Es’hailSat, said the Es’hail 1 satellite was designed with advanced anti-jamming capabilities, as is the Es’hail 2 satellite, which is currently under construction by Mitsubishi Electric.