Abu Dhabi-listed Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the satellite operator owned by sovereign fund Mubadala Investment Company, will evaluate the plan of adding two new satellites to its existing fleet.
Yahsat has been officially requested by the UAE government to conduct an in-depth study in order to support a contract to enhance the capacity of its existing satellites, Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2, with two new satellites, Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5.
The new capacity would complement the secure high-throughput capacity currently contracted on its Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2 by providing new coverage, capabilities, and capacity to meet customers’ next-generation needs. The synergistic use of Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 with Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2, which are expected to continue in parallel for several years, will boost Yahsat’s future growth and secure the company’s long-term financial outlook.
Ali Al Hashemi Group CEO – Yahsat
“Yahsat has long been recognized as a strong national champion, a global ICT leader, and an enabler of critical communications infrastructure. This potential expansion of our fleet for the UAE Government would further underpin our long-term contracted backlog and reinforces our position as the UAE’s primary supplier and preferred partner to the UAE Government for advanced satellite communications and critical satellite connectivity needs. Today’s announcement to assess the expansion of the existing fleet presents a significant opportunity to enhance Yahsat’s business value for all stakeholders, allowing us to capitalize on our future growth strategy.”
The company will perform a request for proposal (RFP) process to identify satellite manufacturers who can provide the best technical and commercial solution for the production of two geostationary satellites for a possible launch in 2026, and will submit a recommendation to the UAE government.
Yahsat has a long-standing relationship with the UAE Government going back over a decade. The first satellite, Al Yah 1, launched in 2011 and the second satellite, Al Yah 2, launched in 2012, serves markets in more than 150 countries including the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Central and southwest Asia.
