| Al Yah Satellite Communications Company | |
| Type: | PJSC |
| Location City: | Abu Dhabi |
| Location Country: | United Arab Emirates |
| Industry: | Satellite communications |
Al Yah Satellite Communications Company P.J.S.C. (Yahsat) is a public company[1] listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company PJSC, offering multi-mission satellite services in more than 150 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia and Australasia.[2] The company offers voice, data, video and internet services for broadcast, Internet and VSAT users for both private and government organisations.[3]
Incorporated in January 2008 the company had an aim of developing, operating and using multi-purpose (Government and commercial) communications satellite systems for the Africa, Europe and West Asia regions.[4]
In July 2008, Yahsat approved a consortium of EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia to construct Yahsat's own satellites, manufacturing took 36 months to be completed in Europe. Arianespace were appointed to launch the first satellite Al Yah 1, currently positioned at 52.5° East.[5]
In August 2008, Yahsat signed a 15-year lease agreement with the UAE Armed Forces to provide secure satellite communications in the UAE as Yahsat's first government customer. As part of this contract, Yahsat will supply the ground terminals and gateway infrastructure for satellite network services.[6]
In August 2009, Yahsat entered into a partnership with European satellite operator SES to create a new company operating under the brand name YahLive offering Direct-to-Home (DTH) television capacity and services to more than two dozen countries in the MENA region.[7]
In December 2023, the company announced that it would be merging with Emirati firm Bayanat to form a new company Space42, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.[8]
The first satellite was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana on 22 April 2011.[9]
A second satellite (Al Yah 2), weighing approx. 6 tons, has been launched by International Launch Services (ILS) on a Proton Breeze M vehicle from the Baikonour Kosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 24, 2012, at 22:18 GMT.[10]
Yahsat mobile subsidiary Thuraya also operates two additional satellites, Thuraya 2, and Thuraya 3.
| Al Yah 1 | Al Yah 2 | Al Yah 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor | Orbital ATK | |||
| Launch | 22 April 2011 | 23 April 2012 | 25 January 2018 [11] | |
| Orbital Location | 52.5° E | 47.5° E | 20.0° W | |
| Lifetime | 15 Years[12] | |||
| Launcher | Ariane 5 ECA | |||
| Capacity/Payload | C-band: 8 × 36 MHz + 6 × 54 MHz Transponders. Ku-band BSS: 25 × 33 MHz Transponders. Ka-band Military: 21 × 54 MHz Secure Transponders. | Ka-band Commercial: 25 × 110 MHz Transponders Ku-band BSS: 27 × 39 MHz Transponders. Ka-band Military: 29 × 57 MHz Secure Transponders. | Ka-band Commercial: 80 × 10 MHz TranspondersKa-band Military: 70 × 57 MHz Secure Transponders[13] | |