stc Group and Astranis Plan Dedicated Satellite for Saudi Arabia in 2027

Saudi Arabia's stc group has signed an agreement with Astranis for a dedicated communications satellite that will provide additional connectivity capacity across the Kingdom from 2027.

The spacecraft will form part of Astranis' Block 3 and will expand stc's existing satellite communications portfolio. Under the agreement, stc will have control over the satellite's payload configuration and coverage, while data will remain in-region, reflecting growing demand for sovereign control over communications infrastructure and data.

The satellite is intended primarily to provide enterprise-grade connectivity and add another layer of resilience alongside Saudi Arabia's extensive terrestrial fibre infrastructure. stc also says the capacity will complement its satellite services in other orbital regimes, creating a more diversified connectivity architecture.

The deal highlights a different approach to sovereign satellite connectivity from large government-backed constellations such as Europe's IRIS². Astranis uses relatively small, dedicated geostationary satellites, allowing individual countries and operators to secure customized capacity without developing an entire national constellation.

For stc and Saudi Arabia, the agreement brings greater control over satellite capacity, geographic coverage and security while expanding network redundancy. More broadly, it reflects the growing role of sovereign and operator-controlled satellite infrastructure within national telecom strategies, alongside the industry's increasing focus on LEO and direct-to-device services.