UAE: Communications Company Yahsat to add 6th satellite by 2024

Abu Dhabi - Yahsat recently inked an MoU with Tawazun Economic Council to establish a new company focusing on designing and developing satellite communication technologies locally.

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) is constructing its sixth satellite T4 and plans to make it operational by 2024, said an official at the UAE-based global satellite operator.

“As of today, we have five satellites in the sky providing a range of services – from big systems to small mobile solutions,” Eisa Al Shamsi, Deputy General Manager, Yahsat’s Government Solutions, told Khaleej Times.

The five satellites reach more than 80 per cent of the world’s population, enabling critical communications including broadband, video broadcasting, backhauling and mobile voice and data solutions. “These are enabled through our acquisition of Thuraya. We now have our sixth satellite, which is under construction and hopefully will be launched in 2024,” Al Shamsi said.

In 2020, Yahsat commenced construction of Thuraya 4-NGS. The new L-band satellite is being built by Airbus, and will offer higher capabilities and increase capacity and coverage across Europe, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, enabling next generation mobility solutions for the government and other enterprises.

Separately, Yahsat recently inked an MoU with Tawazun Economic Council to establish a new company focusing on designing and developing satellite communication technologies locally.

“We will establish a new entity with focus on three main pillars: aeronautical satcom technologies, satellite modem technologies and other satcom solutions and applications. We will develop all of this here and go for full-blown production.”