OmanSat 1

OmanSat 1 [Airbus]

OmanSat-1 is a fully reconfigurable Ka-band telecommunications satellite ordered by Space Communication Technologies (SCT), Oman, and built by Airbus Defence and Space, France/Germany. The spacecraft is based on the OneSat platform and will provide high-throughput services across Oman, the Middle East, East Africa and Asia.

The mission’s purpose is to establish national satellite communications capacity for governmental and commercial use. OmanSat-1 will support broadband links, secure government and private networks, as well as sector-specific services for oil and gas, banking, maritime and aviation. Coverage of Oman’s land area and economic waters is a primary objective, enabling domestic capability and reducing reliance on foreign operators. The satellite’s reconfigurable architecture will allow SCT to adjust capacity and beam layouts in response to changing demand.

SCT serves as the lead centre for Oman’s National Satellite Programme. The organisation, owned by the ITHCA Group under the Oman Investment Authority, is responsible for the implementation, operation and contracting activities associated with OmanSat-1 and the accompanying ground segment.

Airbus Defence and Space provides the design, manufacture and system integration. OmanSat-1 uses the OneSat product line, a fully digital, software-defined platform. OneSat satellites enable in-orbit reconfiguration of coverage, power allocation and frequency plans, allowing flexible adaptation to operational requirements over the mission lifetime. Airbus will also supply the associated ground segment software and arrange the launch service.

OmanSat-1 is a high-throughput Ka-band satellite with fully digital payload architecture. Its reconfigurable beamforming system supports dynamic allocation of capacity over the service region. The spacecraft is expected to include electric propulsion for orbit raising and station-keeping, standard for the OneSat series, and a modular bus structure designed for medium-class geostationary communications satellites. Detailed mass, power and payload parameters have not yet been released.

The launch of OmanSat-1 will be provided under Airbus contract, with the launch vehicle and schedule to be announced. The satellite will be placed in geostationary orbit to begin regional service after completion of in-orbit testing.