The UAE-based global satellite operator Yahsat’s third satellite Al Yah 3, located at 20°W, has successfully completed its in-orbit testing and is ready to support the launch of commercial services
The satellite will expand Yahsat’s Ka-band coverage to 19 additional markets across Africa covering 60 per cent of the population and marks Yahsat’s first entry into Brazil where 95 per cent of the population will have access to its satellite broadband services.
The successful mission is the culmination of a project which has seen Al Yah 3 designed and built with Emirati engineers leading at every stage of the process in partnership with Orbital ATK, said Yahsat.
“We are excited by the opportunity Al Yah 3 brings in our ability to deliver reliable and affordable satellite broadband services to parts of the world that need it the most, building upon our previous achievements as pioneers of such services across Africa, the Middle East and south-west Asia,” said Masood M Sharif Mahmood, CEO at Yahsat.
“It has been an incredible journey for us and a very proud moment for both Yahsat and for the UAE. Our engineers have been heavily involved in managing all aspects of the project including design, development and launch. We are now focusing on the commercial launch of our services using Al Yah 3 over the coming weeks.” Mahmood added.
Al Yah 3 focuses on helping to empower millions of people across the Middle East, Africa, South West Asia and Brazil to access affordable internet access via Yahsat’s high-speed satellite broadband service, YahClick. The service is designed to provide satellite broadband Internet to everyone, opening up new opportunities for every aspect of society from governments and enterprises to end users at home.
Al Yah 3, an all Ka-band satellite, and the first hybrid electric propulsion GEOStar-3™ satellite completed by Orbital ATK, was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket by Arianespace, on 26 January 2018.
