General Characteristics
Arabsat 5A is owned by the Arab Satellite Communications Organization and positioned at orbital slot 31.0° E. Three bands operating simultaneously is not marketing but genuine engineering flexibility: Ku for broadcasting, C for wide coverage in rainy conditions, Ka for corporate internet and VSAT. For Ukrainian installers, position 31.0° E is well-known - other active satellites are located nearby, so reorientation of an already-tuned dish is minimal.
In the sathub database, Arabsat 5A has 18 transponders and 36 channels recorded. The primary audience is Arabic-speaking countries and diaspora communities in Europe. Open FTA channels are available to anyone with appropriate equipment.
Launch and Technical Platform
The satellite was launched to geostationary orbit in 2010 by a Proton-M launch vehicle from Baikonur. The manufacturer is the American company Space Systems/Loral, platform SSL-1300. This is one of the most widely used commercial platforms in the industry with proven reliability. The design lifetime is 15 years. NORAD catalogue number: 36745. Position 31.0° E is allocated to Arabsat for several satellites in the organization's orbital constellation.
Coverage Zones and Reception in Ukraine
Arabsat 5A generates several spatial beams. Target zones are the Middle East, North Africa, West and East Africa. The European beam covers southern and central regions of the continent, including Ukraine, but signal level here is noticeably lower than in target zones.
In practice, when tuning a 0.9 m dish in Kharkiv, Ku signal is stable even in light cloud cover. In Kyiv and Lviv, signal margin is lower - it is better to choose 1.2 m straight away to avoid returning to the customer after the first serious rain.
| Beam | Primary Coverage | Recommended Antenna Diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Ku - Middle East / North Africa | Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Libya | 60-90 cm |
| Ku - European | Southern and Central Europe, Ukraine (east) | 90 cm - 1.2 m |
| Ka - regional | Middle East, North Africa, part of Europe | 1.2 m - 1.8 m (Ukraine) |
| C - wide-area | Africa, Middle East, Asia | 1.8 m - 2.4 m |
For Ku band in eastern regions of Ukraine - Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia - an antenna of 90 cm to 1.2 m is sufficient. In central and western regions, diameter should be increased to 1.2-1.5 m. Ka band in Ukrainian conditions requires 1.2 to 1.8 m and a specialized converter.
Transponders and Frequency Bands
18 active transponders across three bands. Broadcasting is conducted in DVB-S and DVB-S2 standards with QPSK and 8PSK modulation. Symbol rate varies depending on application - from narrowband streams to wideband multiplexes.
Ku band is oriented primarily towards television broadcasting and VSAT communications. C band provides wide geographic coverage and stable signal during precipitation - according to signal measurements in dense cloud conditions, C band performs significantly better than Ku. Ka band is intended for broadband internet and corporate telecommunications.
Television Packages and FTA Channels
The broadcast base consists of Arabic-language channels - news, entertainment, religious, sports. Part of the transmission is in open mode without conditional access: receive on any DVB-S2 receiver without a card. Regional packages are present for Middle East and North Africa audiences, as well as channels for Arabic diaspora in Europe.
A significant portion of transponder capacity is occupied by data transmission services and corporate communications - the satellite is actively used by VSAT providers in the region. A complete current list of channels with frequencies and access parameters is available in the sathub transponder database.
Frequently Asked Questions
What antenna is needed to receive Arabsat 5A in Kyiv?
For Ku band - at least 1.0-1.2 m. For Ka - from 1.5 m. C band requires from 1.8 m.
Are there open FTA channels on Arabsat 5A?
Yes. Some channels are unencrypted and received on any DVB-S2 receiver without a conditional access card.
What azimuth should the antenna be tuned to in Ukraine?
For position 31.0° E, azimuth from Kyiv is approximately 157-162 degrees (southern direction with slight eastward deviation), elevation angle is approximately 28-32 degrees depending on region.
What modulation standards does Arabsat 5A support?
DVB-S and DVB-S2 with QPSK and 8PSK modulation. Most modern receivers detect signal parameters automatically.