Abu Dhabi’s YahSat will send two hybrid satellites into the orbit in this year, which will serve the military as well as civilian and commercial purposes. The first satellite Y1A is scheduled to be launched by the end of March, an official said.
Al Yahsat Satellite Communications Company, or YahSat, which is a part of Mubadala Development Company, an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi Government, announced its plans in year 2010 to launch two hybrid satellites designed to provide communication facilities to commercial and governmental users.
The ambitious satellite communications programme that could cost $1.6 billion is placed to open new avenues of business opportunities in the country. EADS Astrium has been awarded a contract to manage the space segment of these two satellites, whilst Thales Alenia Space will manage the floor segment. “Our project is special... Our satellites have military as well as commercial payloads, which no country within the Middle East offers”, said Rashid Al Ghafri General Manager Yah Service.
Yah Service, which will manage the two satellites, will supply value added solutions to a wide range of clients with critical operations and distinct applications anywhere in the world. For the government payload, the general manager said “We are attempting to target armed forces, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, Police and gas and oil organizations as well as other users. Our expertise extends to embassies, military networks, rural communications, border control services and emergencies and disaster relief agencies”, the organization said.
Most of the government institutions have sensitive data, info and communication for which they need a secure communication network, which the Abu Dhabi-based Satellite communications firm will offer.” We give security, reliability and confidentiality,” Al Ghafri said. “Initially, YahSat plans to offer range of its services to the UAE’s military and civilian institutions but later on nations in the GCC region will probably be offered the same, as there is enough capacity to meet the requirements of the region,” he explained.
The second satellite Y1B, to be sent into the orbit within the fourth-quarter of the year, which will offer internet services in the Middle East, Africa and East Asia region.
