Arabsat and GMV collaborate to build a next-generation Mission Control Center, paving the way to harness the flexibility and dynamic configuration capabilities of Arabsat-7A satellite

Technology multinational GMV has secured a new contract from Arabsat for the provision of a next-generation Mission Control Center (MCC) designed to manage Arabsat’s upcoming fleet of flexible, software-defined satellites. The award reflects Arabsat’s continued confidence in GMV and marks a new milestone in a technology partnership that began in 2004.

The new MCC will provide Arabsat with a versatile, scalable and future-ready system capable of supporting advanced payload operations and evolving service requirements. It will enable efficient planning, configuration and control of digital satellite payloads, while ensuring high performance, availability and operational reliability.

At the heart of the new MCC is GMV’s Smartpayload product suite, which brings together the tools required to plan services, configure payloads, control satellite interfaces and monitor traffic and resources across multiple satellites. These capabilities will be supported by advanced External Planning Tools, including a Payload Mission Manager designed to optimize the interaction between satellite and ground configurations. Built on a modular, microservices-based architecture, the system will give Arabsat the agility to expand services, incorporate new capabilities and adapt its operations as its fleet and customer requirements evolve.

The system will also integrate algorithms and analytics capabilities to support traffic prediction, resource optimization and dynamic responses to changing operational conditions. Its cloud-ready architecture, open interfaces and application programming interfaces (APIs) will facilitate interoperability with third-party systems and enable the MCC to evolve in line with future technological developments.

The project also introduces advanced optimization and analysis capabilities that will help Arabsat anticipate operational needs and make more informed decisions. AI/ML-based tools will support the efficient use of satellite and ground resources, while Digital Twin functionalities will enable performance evaluation and what-if analysis before changes are implemented. By bringing space- and ground-segment operations together and automating complex tasks, the system will simplify day-to-day operations and improve user operability.

“This contract represents an important new milestone in GMV’s relationship with Arabsat and in supporting its transition towards flexible, software-defined satellite operations,” said María Ángeles Pérez responsible for Satellite Payload Control Centre Division at GMV. “By combining proven products with a scalable and open architecture, the new Mission Control Center will provide the flexibility, automation and operational insight required to respond efficiently to changing service demands, maximize the value of Arabsat’s future satellite fleet and pursue new market opportunities.”

“The Next-Generation Mission Control Center will enable Arabsat to serve diverse market verticals through its future Arabsat-7A satellite by dynamically configuring Satellite Coverages, bandwidth, power allocation, and unlimited switching capabilities from the ground. This will provide greater flexibility and agility to respond to evolving customer needs,” said Arabsat’s CTO, Mohannad Almurshed.

The contract builds on a long-standing strategic relationship between GMV and Arabsat spanning more than two decades. Since 2004, GMV has provided ground-segment systems and control solutions for multiple generations of Arabsat satellites, evolving its technology alongside the operator’s needs. GMV technology currently supports the operation of Arabsat’s entire satellite fleet.

The partnership has also been a driver of operational innovation. Through the AutoFleet project, Arabsat pioneered a highly automated approach to satellite fleet operations, working with GMV to integrate planning, procedure execution and fleet-wide situational awareness into a unified operational concept. This experience provides a strong foundation for the advanced automation capabilities of the new MCC.

GMV is also currently working with Arabsat on the Arabsat 7A program, a fully flexible software-defined satellite designed to enable in-orbit reconfiguration of missions and services, further extending the partnership into the operator’s next generation of satellite operations.

Thanks to the reuse of proven products and close collaboration between the two companies, the system’s modular architecture will support a structured implementation and enable the progressive enhancement of its capabilities in line with Arabsat’s operational needs and roadmap. The award further strengthens GMV’s position as a trusted technology partner to leading satellite operators worldwide.

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