From right to left: David Thompson, chairman and CEO, Orbital; Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, CEO, Yahsat; Stéphane Israël chairman and CEO, Arianespace. Photo: Yahsat

[Via Satellite 09-10-2014] United Arab Emirates (UAE) based satellite operator Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), has selected Orbital Sciences to build its next satellite, Al Yah 3. Slated for launch in late 2016 aboard an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket, Yahsat expects the new High Throughput Satellite (HTS) will provide capacity to more than 600 million people.

Orbital Sciences is building Al Yah 3 based on the company’s new hybrid propulsion GEOStar 3 satellite bus. Once in orbit, the spacecraft is expected to cover more than 95 percent of the population of Brazil, and approximately 60 percent of the population of Africa in Ka-band.

“Yahsat will continue to explore ground partners and distributors across both Africa and Brazil. We will provide a 360-degree service platform to facilitate the distribution of broadband and connectivity services in our target markets. Part of this exercise is to ensure that Yahsat’s builds the right distribution and operational platforms within each of its markets,” said Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, CEO of Yahsat.