Nilesat finds itself in the comfortable position of having a fully utilized fleet, with near-zero spare capacity.

Therefore, Nilesat needs second-generation crafts to extend capacity, and to provide back-up bandwidth to its 101 craft, launched back in 1998 with a 15-year life span.

Nilesat is in advanced discussion with two satellite builders, one of whom is believed to be Orbital Sciences, regarding building its new Nilesat 201 craft.

Some confusion, though, has arose from NileSat publicly seeking a tender in this regard before, and now scrapping the old tender to start a new one.

Advertisements due to appear this coming weekend in trade journals invite satellite manufacturers to re-enter the tendering process. Bids open from July 9.

Via [ RapidTVNews ]