Astranis to Launch Dedicated GEO Satellite for Saudi

Saudi Arabia's leading telecommunications provider, stc group, has ordered a dedicated satellite from Astranis to provide secure communications services. The satellite is scheduled for launch on a dedicated Falcon 9 rocket in the first quarter of 2027.

Astranis builds smaller geostationary orbit satellites than traditional models. The company stated that stc group will have full control over the satellite's payload configuration and coverage area. Data will be kept within the region with what Astranis calls "enterprise-grade" security.

The Block 3 Launch Manifest

The new satellite for stc will fly on Astranis's upcoming Block 3 dedicated Falcon 9 launch. An Astranis spokesperson confirmed to Via Satellite that this satellite will take the place of one originally slated for Mexican telecommunications provider Apco Networks. Apco ordered two satellites in 2023, and its second satellite is now planned for a later launch block.

"We work closely with customers to shift satellites on our launch manifest depending on their needs," the spokesperson said. "That flexibility is a core part of the Astranis business model."

The current customer manifest for the Block 3 launch is as follows:

A company spokesperson confirmed the satellites are progressing through assembly, integration, and test (AIT). Launch remains on track for a window in the first quarter of 2027.

Customer Control and Regional Focus

Astranis CEO John Gedmark framed the deal as part of building high-orbit infrastructure for essential services. "Our customers control coverage, payload configuration, and the networking stack end to end," Gedmark said. "While data stays in-country, private and secure."

For stc group, the order represents a strategic move to bolster national digital infrastructure. Mohammad Alabbadi, the group's chief carrier & wholesale officer, called it a "new benchmark for secure and reliable connectivity."

"As stc matters in advancing Saudi Arabia's digital infrastructure, space has become a critical layer of our ecosystem," Alabbadi commented. He added that dedicated satellite capacity is central to delivering resilient connectivity across the country and cited Astranis's speed and flexibility as key factors in the partnership.

Expanding Middle East Presence

This deal marks Astranis's second recent dedicated satellite order in the Middle East. The company is also providing a satellite for Omani conglomerate MB Group, which is also planned for the Block 3 launch. The arrangement demonstrates the company's model of offering smaller, dedicated GEO satellites for national or regional operators seeking controlled and secure communications capacity.