ETCO Space and Etlaq sign MOU
Omantel hosted the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ETCO Space and Etlaq at its headquarters on Wednesday. The MOU aims to explore partnerships in data center services, technology solutions, and products.
Azzan bin Abdullah al Maamari, Vice President of ETCO Space, and Essam bin Abdulrahman al Zadjali, Chief Commercial Officer of Etlaq, signed the MOU. The ceremony was attended by H H Azzan bin Qais al Said, Founder and CEO of Etlaq, Talal bin Saeed al Maamari, CEO of Omantel, and Abdulaziz Sadiq Haj Jaafar, CEO of ETCO Space.
Under the MOU, the two parties agreed to cooperate in various aspects, with a significant focus on enabling ETCO Space to utilise launch providers operating from Etlaq for any ETCO Space payloads launched from Oman. Additionally, ETCO Space is empowered to introduce other launch companies intending to launch from Oman to Etlaq.
The space launch port will provide Etlaq with facilities to conduct research and development in the fields of satellite technology, propulsion and space for ETCO Space or its partners. The two parties will explore and exchange expertise In-country Value (ICV) and capacity building for the development of Oman's national cadres in the space sector.
In addition, Etlaq will share its customer base with ETCO Space, its partners and subsidiaries to analyde satellite data, satellite communications and other services and end.
ETCO Space operates the first national satellite dedicated to capturing satellite images across ground stations to meet the needs of Oman and the region in the space sector, with a focus on enhancing local capabilities in analyding satellite image data, supporting local competencies in the relevant engineering and scientific sectors, continuing to transfer the latest knowledge to them, as well as reducing costs in the sectors benefiting from satellite image analysis services, where these images can be used for environmental inspection, boosting agricultural efficiency, maps, infrastructure management, oil and gas services, mining and renewable energy.
Omantel already has an ongoing partnership with ETCO Space to provide satellite services, under which Omantel provides services like infrastructure, in addition to hosting satellite communication services under one roof.
Through its partnership with ETCO Space, Omantel aims to expand its digital services and support its investments in the satellite image data sector, powered by its AI solutions, the Internet of Things and its enabling technologies. Satellite image analysis services complement these solutions and will provide a qualitative addition to the digital services, especially those related to space, where the satellite allows data analysis, supports scientific research projects in space sciences and much more.