Tuesday 19 March 2024
 
»
 
»
Story

Yahsat ties up with experts to launch Al Yah 3 satellite

ABU DHABI, September 10, 2014

Yahsat, a UAE-based satellite operator that is wholly owned Mubadala Development Company, has tied up with Orbital Science Corporation and Arianespace, to launch its third satellite Al Yah 3 in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The third satellite will extend the company’s operation to cover commercial Ka-band to an additional 17 countries and 600 million users across Africa and Brazil, said a statement.

Orbital will manufacture the Al Yah 3, while Arianespace will launch the new satellite into orbit from French Guiana.

Yahsat’s partnership model and knowledge-sharing vision is aimed at bringing UAE technology and home-grown services to some of the world’s most unconnected regions. The selection will also support Yahsat’s objective of finding the right balance between cost, innovation and reliability for this crucial next step in the execution of the company’s growth strategy.

Jassem Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, chairman of Yahsat’s board, said: “After a rigorous selection process of over two years that included majority of Yahsat international engineers, Yahsat has chosen two industry-leading organisations that will manufacture and launch our third satellite in late 2016.

“Having worked with Arianespace for the launch of Y1A, one of the world’s most advanced satellites currently in orbit, and with Orbital’s impressive track record of building over 150 satellites that have amassed over 1,000 years of in-orbit experience, both companies have proven their ability to meet and exceed our expectations for world class connectivity in Africa and Brazil.”

Masood M Sharif Mahmood, chief executive officer at Yahsat, said: “Looking ahead as development and launch plans progress, Yahsat will continue to explore ground partners and distributors across both Africa and Brazil. We will provide a 360-degree service platform to facilitate the distribution of broadband and connectivity services in our target markets. Part of this exercise is to ensure that Yahsat’s builds the right distribution and operational platforms within each of its markets.”

Both partnerships support Yahsat’s objective of supporting the UAE national development agenda by providing on the job training platform for Yahsat’s employees and UAE students throughout the build and launch process, said the statement.

Al Yah 3 will be an all Ka-band high throughput satellite, with a design that will optimise cost, capacity, coverage and flexibility. It will enable delivery of affordable broadband, directly or indirectly to over 600 million users in both continents, specifically covering more than 95 per cent of the population in Brazil and 60 per cent of the population in Africa, it added. - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Satellite | launch | Yahsat | Manufacture | Arianespace |

More IT & Telecommunications Stories

calendarCalendar of Events

Ads