Noorsat recently launched operations in the Middle East with a new platform, which will offer customers voice, video, data and Internet satellite communication solutions. Noorsat aims to put pressure on established satellite pay-TV operators such as Showtime and Orbit in the region.

Arab investors from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region created the platform, which can provide transponder capacity from five satellite locations including 26 degrees East co- located with Arabsat, and 7 degrees West co-located with Nilesat. Noorsat, based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, also plans an initial public offering within the next two years.