[Satellite TODAY 10-21-09] Newtec will sign a cooperation agreement with Arabsat Oct. 25 to jointly develop new markets and technologies in order to promote, sell and implement new satellite-based solutions to customers throughout the Middle East, Newtec announced Oct. 20. The deal will be signed in the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce as part of Prince Philippe of Belgium’s visit to Saudi Arabia. 
    The cooperation will focus on DTH TV, TV contribution and distribution, IP connectivity over satellite, and occasional TV and radio exchange.
    Newtec also will sign a purchase agreement with Arabsat and the Arab States Broadcasting Union to implement a Menos network extension. This extension aims to allow the satellite migration of existing service on Arabsat Badr-4 satellite to the new Arabsat-5A satellite, scheduled for launch in early 2010. 
    “The introduction of Menos has been an extremely important milestone for us, the Arab region and the broadcasting industry as a whole. The Menos service is not only a powerful international exchange platform for radio and television, but a powerful IP-based service that is going to revolutionize broadcast transmissions,” Khalid Balkheyour, president and CEO of Arabsat, said in a statement.

            Financial details of the agreements were not disclosed.

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