- UAE operator aims to enhance its L-band business for mobile telecommunications system.
- It is scheduled for operation in 2024.
Abu Dhabi: UAE’s satellite operator Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) has selected Airbus to build Thuraya 4-NGS satellite to enhance its L-band business for the mobile telecommunications system.
The satellite will cover across Europe, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, enabling mobility solutions for all customer segments, including defence, government and enterprise.
“With a AED2 billion commitment, we are creating a multipurpose and flexible satellite ecosystem that is attuned for growth and future diversification,” Khaled Al Qubaisi, Chairman of Yahsat’s Board of Directors and CEO of Mubadala’s Aerospace, Renewables and ICT platform, said.
Based on the Airbus Eurostar Neo Platform, Thuraya 4-NGS will incorporate a large 12-metre L-band antenna and a payload with on-board processing providing advanced routing flexibility of up to 3,200 channels with dynamic power allocation over a large number of spot beams. It is scheduled for operation in 2024.
Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Airbus Space Systems, said that Thuraya 4-NGS, being electric, will benefit from its latest processed payload technology giving increased flexibility and adaptability over the course of its life in orbit.