Al Jazeera gets new satellite frequency after alleged jamming

Al Jazeera has announced a new satellite frequency following the alleged jamming of its signal during the Arab Spring.

The Qatar-based broadcaster last February accused Libya's intelligence services of jamming its broadcasts across the Middle East and North Africa.

The Dubai-based operator MBC, which runs the rival Al Arabiya channel, also reported "deliberate and planned attacks" to its satellite signal last year, with the cause of the disruption also traced to Libya.

The jamming of satellite signals is made possible by using a satellite set to transmit a signal at the same frequency as another station. This can disrupt or stop the broadcast of a legitimate channel.

In an attempt to avoid further disruption, Al Jazeera said it has a new frequency on the Arabsat satellite.

"Al Jazeera has faced a series of satellite interference events over the past twelve months," the broadcaster said in an emailed statement.

"These sustained interferences have been an attempt to disrupt the Network's broadcasts across the Middle East and North Africa," it added.

The new Arabsat frequency is 11334V, the broadcaster said.

"We would like to inform our viewers of the new satellite frequency on Arabsat," said Saeed Bawazir, director of technology at Al Jazeera Network.

"Over the last few months, Al Jazeera has faced sustained interference to our satellite transmissions," he added.