Syria Faces Media Blockade: Studies “Sham Sat” Launching

Damascus Exclusive

The Syrian government is currently undergoing a study to launch a Syrian satellite called "Sham Sat" (Levant Sat) that allows Syrian satellite TV stations to freely broadcast.

This came after "Arab Sat" and "Nile Sat" administrations decided to block these stations, in an attempt to blackout the accurate facts occurring in Syria.
However, the project, according to informed sources, is still under deliberation, and the satellite is under construction in cooperation with the General Organization of Remote Sensing (GORS) and the Russian Kosmos Institution.

In an interview with al-Ahed News, Chairman of the Syrian National Media Council Dr. Taleb Qadi Amin reiterated that "the idea of launching a Syrian satellite is still under discussion, especially after the conspiracy and media war Syria is facing."
"Launching a Syrian satellite was never thought of before since satellites are considered commercial and have nothing to do with political causes," Amin indicated.

He also added: "They [satellite companies] violated the commercial agreements and the Arab media ministers' agreement on regional broadcasting by banning broadcast of Syrian satellite TV stations."
Furthermore, Amin mentioned that "given that satellite companies are commercial, no one ever thought of launching one because of its hefty costs and the availability of such services."
"Syria has special potential because technology has become open for everyone," Amin further accentuated, underscoring that; "Syria has vast experience in the fields of media, techniques, and satellites."

"Damascus has the capacity to deal with these techniques, but this requires studying and researching in light of the current crisis," he concluded.


Source:al-Ahed News, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org