Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Gulf News
Abu Dhabi Yahsat 1B, the second of Abu Dhabi-based Yahsat’s high-capacity satellites which was launched on April 24 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, will enable a range of public and military services from next month once the testing period is completed.
Tarek Al Hosani, Yahsat CEO, said: “Yahsat 1B will be providing public and military services to customers by June 2012 and the services for commercial uses will be available by October 2012.”
Going into details, he said: “We have signed contracts with 30 service providers for the so-called broadband internet YahClick service in 28 countries. This service will be available by October 2012.
“The number of internet users in the UAE using the ‘YahClick’ would reach more than half-a-million within three to five years. The number of users of Yasat 1B would reach 20,000 customers when the satellite is run for commercial services,” he added.
Yahsat 1B will mark the second stage of Yahsat’s integrated satellite communications system, Al Hosani said. “It will provide high-speed internet services to 28 countries in Africa, South East Asia, the Middle East and the areas where optic fibres are difficult to set up.”
The Yasat 1A was successfully launched in April last year from the European Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.
By Shehab Al Makahleh?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
