SpaceX to Launch Yahsat’s Two Satellites

 Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider and listed on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), on Monday said that it has selected SpaceX for the launch of its advanced new geostationary satellites Al Yah 4 (AY4) and Al Yah 5 (AY5) using SpaceX’s flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket.

The agreement is an important component of the AY4 and AY5 procurement programme, the full cost of which is expected to reach approximately $1.1 billion, encompassing spacecraft, ground segment infrastructure, launch and insurance.

This announcement follows the signing of a contract between Yahsat and Airbus to design and build AY4 and AY5 based on the Eurostar Neo platform as part of an $5.1 billion, Yahsat said in a discosure with ADX this morning.

The UAE government has mandated the awarded in Q3 of 2023 to Yahsat for the provision of satellite communications capacity and managed services for 17 years, primarily on AY4 and AY5.

Yahsat Group CEO Ali Al Hashemi said they were proud to collaborate with SpaceX on the upcoming Falcon 9 launches of our AI Yah 4 and AI Yah 5 satellites.

He also said that through the successful completion of the launch contracts with SpaceX and the recently announced design and manufacturing contract with Airbus, Yahsat is well placed to pursue the final contract with the UAE Government, the anchor customer of the Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 programme, as part of its largest ever mandate received in its history from the UAE Government.

Both satellites will provide secure governmental communications over a wide geographical area across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. AY4 and AY5 are expected to eventually replace the older Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2, which were launched in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Yahsat is a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, offering multi-mission satellite solutions in more than 150 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia and Australasia.

Larger Reach

Yahsat’s fleet of 5 satellites reaches more than 80% of the world’s population, enabling critical communications including broadband, broadcasting, backhauling and mobility solutions.

Based out of Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Yahsat provides C, Ku, Ka and L-band satellite communications solutions for land, maritime and aero platforms to consumers, governments and enterprises.

Its businesses consist of Yahsat Government Solutions, Thuraya, YahClick (powered by Hughes) and YahLink. Yahsat also participates in Hughes do Brasil, an equity partnership with Hughes, and Yahlive, an equity partnership with SES.

In 2020, Yahsat commenced construction of Thuraya 4, the next-generation telecommunications system for Thuraya, which is due to launch in 2024 and to enter service in 2025. In 2023, Yahsat commenced construction of two new software-defined telecommunication satellites, Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5, which are expected to be launched in 2027 and 2028, respectively.

It may be recalled that on 25 April 2024, the shareholders of Bayanat and Yahsat approved the proposed merger of the two companies during their respective General Assembly Meetings (GAMs). The merger was aimed at creating an AI-powered space technology champion in the MENA region with global reach.

Bayanat and Yahsat will continue to operate independently until regulatory approval is received and the merger is effective, which is expected to take place in mid-2024.