Satellites Should Join Mobile Networks From Outset
Es'hailSat's CEO says satellites must be integrated into mobile networks from the start rather than serving as backups.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Telecommunications
Es'hailSat CEO Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari said satellites should be integrated into mobile networks from the outset during a panel at the Satellite and Non-Terrestrial Networks Summit on the margins of MWC26 Doha. Es'hailSat plans to launch its Suhail 3 satellite within the next five years.
Why it matters
Satellites must be part of the network from the start rather than serving as a backup for malfunctions, since ensuring critical infrastructure operates during crises is the most important objective. The shift reflects Es'hailSat's move from a solely satellite capacity provider toward a fully integrated solutions provider.
Es'hailSat operates a Tier IV-certified ground station in Al Ghuwayriyah, northwest Qatar, and controls its satellites through that facility. The planned Suhail 3 satellite is expected to add capacity, though its specifications were not detailed.
The players
Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari
Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari is the CEO of Es'hailSat, the Qatari satellite operator, and spoke about integrating satellites into mobile networks.
Es'hailSat
Es'hailSat is a Qatari satellite operator that controls satellites and provides managed services through its ground station in Al Ghuwayriyah.
Tim Hatt
Tim Hatt is Head of Research and Consulting at GSMA Intelligence, the research arm of the GSMA mobile industry association, and outlined findings of a GSMA study.
The details
Speaking on a panel at the Satellite and Non-Terrestrial Networks Summit, Al Kuwari said Es'hailSat plans to combine GEO, Non-GEO and terrestrial technologies into integrated solutions. The company must substantially strengthen its assets and ground infrastructure to reach that goal, and the summit also discussed revenue strategies across consumer, B2B and Internet of Things segments.
Timeline
November 08, 2026: Al Kuwari speaks at the MWC26 Doha summit panel.
Within the next five years: Es'hailSat plans to launch the Suhail 3 satellite.
The Tech Race
Es'hailSat's push to combine GEO, Non-GEO and terrestrial networks places it in a broader race among satellite operators to move from standalone capacity sales into integrated connectivity services. The plan to launch Suhail 3 within five years is its concrete step toward that model.
The integration of satellites into mobile networks could eventually affect how users stay connected in areas where terrestrial coverage is weak or disrupted. The extraction does not describe any pricing, device, or service changes available to consumers now.
The takeaway
Satellites are being positioned as a core part of mobile connectivity rather than a fallback, which could matter most for keeping critical infrastructure running during crises. Watch for the Suhail 3 launch timeline to see how quickly this integration moves from plans to service.
Further reading
For more on how satellite and mobile networks are converging, explore the Telecommunications section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Qatar News Agency.
