Tiba-1: Egypt’s First Government Communications Satellite

Tiba-1 is a geostationary communications satellite developed for the Government of Egypt, designed to enhance the country’s telecommunications infrastructure. The satellite was jointly built by Thales Alenia Space (TAS) and Airbus Defence and Space, with TAS serving as the lead partner responsible for the Ka-band communications payload supporting both secure and broadband services.

Airbus supplied the Eurostar E3000 satellite platform and handled the assembly, integration, and testing of the spacecraft. Weighing 5,600 kg at launch and delivering over 9 kilowatts of power, Tiba-1 is engineered for a lifespan of more than 15 years in orbit.

Mission and Coverage

Tiba-1 is positioned at 35.5° East, Egypt’s first dedicated satellite orbital slot. The satellite provides broadband internet and secure communications across Egypt, especially targeting remote and underserved regions. It also extends services to Arab and Nile Basin countries, supporting both public and commercial telecommunications needs.

Egyptian officials noted that the satellite would become fully operational within three months of launch. The satellite plays a vital role in national development projects, delivering enhanced connectivity and communication services crucial for modern infrastructure.

Development and Launch

The satellite consortium received praise for its ambitious build timeline and successful handling of technical challenges. The dual-launch mission took place in late 2019 aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, in partnership with Arianespace, which deployed Tiba-1 into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). It launched alongside Inmarsat-5 F5.

This launch marks the fourth Arianespace satellite mission for Egypt, further advancing the country’s space capabilities.

Egypt’s Satellite Legacy

• NileSat 101: First Arab telecommunications satellite, launched in 1998

• NileSat 102: Expanded satellite TV distribution in 2000

• EgyptSat 1: Egypt’s first remote-sensing satellite, launched in 2007 in partnership with Ukraine’s Yuzhnoye Design Office

Tiba-1 builds on this legacy as Egypt’s most advanced government telecommunications satellite to date, combining European engineering excellence with a strategic goal to boost national digital infrastructure.