PARIS — Emirates Space Imaging (ESI) has signed a multiyear agreement with Skybox Imaging to distribute Skybox satellite imagery in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, ESI said.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates-based ESI has in turn partnered with European Space Imaging (EUSI) of Munich and Dubai-based Space Imaging Middle East, giving those companies Skybox distribution rights in their territories.

EUSI said Feb. 26 that its coverage area will include the Commonwealth of Independent States in addition to Europe and North Africa.

Under the agreement, whose financial terms were not disclosed, ESI and its partners have purchased two ground stations featuring 2.4-meter antennas, to be located in Munich and Abu Dhabi.

The ground stations will permit the companies to send tasking orders directly to the Skybox Imaging constellation, which currently has a single satellite but is expected to reach 15 satellites in late 2015 and ultimately 24 spacecraft, according to plans outlined by Mountain View, Calif.-based Skybox.

EUSI said its ground station, or SkyNode, is under construction at the Oberpfaffenhofen site of the German Aerospace Center, DLR, which is Germany’s space agency. It is expected to be operational in May, EUSI said. 

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Peter B. de Selding was the Paris Bureau Chief for SpaceNews.