Arabsat 5C occupies orbital position 20.0° E and is operated by the Arab Satellite Communications Organization, one of the key satellite operators in the Arab region. The satellite provides telecommunications services to the Middle East, North and West Africa, with partial coverage extending to Europe and Central Asia. For Ukrainian satellite reception enthusiasts, this position is of particular interest due to Arabic-language broadcasting and regional transmissions in the C and Ka bands.
Launch and technical specifications
The satellite was launched to geostationary orbit in 2013 by Proton-M launch vehicle from Baikonur. Manufacturer - Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman), SSL 1300 platform. This is one of the most widely used and well-proven geostationary platforms in the industry. Design lifetime - 15 years. NORAD ID of the satellite - 37810, orbital parameters are available in open catalogues.
Coverage zones and reception in Ukraine
The main beams of Arabsat 5C are oriented towards the Middle East, North and West Africa. The European beam formally covers Ukraine, but signal strength here is significantly lower than in target regions. In practice, when adjusting a 0.9 m dish in Kyiv, the C-band signal level remains at an acceptable margin, but there is almost no headroom for amplification.
| Beam | Coverage | Antenna diameter for Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
| C-band (global) | Middle East, Africa, Europe, Central Asia | 90 cm - 1.2 m |
| Ka-band (regional) | Middle East, North Africa, part of Europe | 60 cm - 90 cm |
For Kyiv and central regions in the C-band, an antenna of 90 cm or larger is recommended. In the western part of the country, conditions are somewhat better due to closer proximity to the reliable coverage zone. According to signal measurements in dense cloud conditions, even 1.2 m does not always guarantee stable reception in the Ka-band. The east and south show virtually no difference in signal level compared to the centre.
Transponders and frequency bands
Arabsat 5C operates in C and Ka bands. According to the sathub database, there are 10 active transponders and 72 channels. The C-band is less sensitive to atmospheric precipitation and provides stable signal on large antennas. The Ka-band allows for smaller dishes, but rain attenuation is more noticeable here. Transmission is carried out in DVB-S2 standard with various modulation schemes depending on the transponder and service type. Part of the capacity is allocated for corporate networks and data transmission.
Open channels and television packages
The main content is Arabic-language broadcasting: news, entertainment and religious channels for audiences in the Middle East and North Africa. Some transponders contain open FTA channels accessible without cards or subscriptions. Among them are regional broadcasters from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other countries in the region. Encrypted packages are targeted at subscribers in target regions and are of no practical interest to Ukrainian viewers.
Frequently asked questions
What antenna is needed to receive Arabsat 5C in Ukraine?
In the C-band - from 90 cm to 1.2 m depending on the region. In the Ka-band, 60-90 cm is sufficient provided that the specific beam covers your location.
Are there open channels on Arabsat 5C?
Yes, among the 72 channels in the database, some are open FTA. These are mainly Arabic-language regional broadcasters without conditional access.
What transmission standard does the satellite use?
DVB-S2 with various modulation and FEC parameters depending on the transponder. Current frequencies and symbol rates are available in the transponder table on sathub.
Is it possible to combine reception of Arabsat 5C with other satellites?
Position 20.0° E is adjacent to Arabsat 5A/6B at 26.0° E and Eutelsat 21B at 21.5° E. With a motorised dish or multi-feed installation, combining is technically possible, but requires precise alignment.