TRA Grants Al Yah Advanced and Star Satellite Communications Ten Year Satellite Service Licenses
August 09, 2010
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) granted “Al Yah Advanced Satellite Communications Services” (Al Yah Advanced) a ten-year satellite services license, and “Star Satellite Communications Company” (Star) a ten-year satellite and broadcasting services license, both effective as of 8th July, 2010.
While the Al Yah Advanced license is limited to providing telecommunications services to the UAE Government, the Star license allows Star to provide a wide portfolio of telecommunications services to meet the high demand for emerging applications in the satellite industry such as turn-key telecommunications solutions, broadband services and broadcasting services within the UAE. The licenses are granted pursuant to Federal Law by Decree No (3) of 2003, as amended.
Al Yah Advanced and Star are both subsidiaries of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company “Yahsat”, which currently also holds a satellite services license from the TRA. The signing ceremony took place at the TRA headquarters in Abu Dhabi between H.E. Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA Director General and Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, the CEO of Yahsat.
Through its continuous efforts to develop the telecommunications sector in the UAE, and to guarantee fair competition between the service providers within the UAE market, the TRA has approved the designated companies to provide the satellite services, aiming to supply the market with a new and extensive variety of satellite services.
Mohamed Al Ghanim TRA Director General said: “The TRA strategy aims to widen the services and the packages offered in the market through satellite providers. We fully believe that fair competition is a fundamental factor to drive the market forward and to ensure resourcefulness.”
“The UAE telecom sector has witnessed massive changes within the last four years; we are aiming to position our country as a center for integrated telecommunications services. Issuing the licenses to Al Yah Advanced and Star will definitely add value to the telecom sector,” added Al Ghanim.
“We achieved a major milestone in February 2010, when Yahsat was awarded the satellite services license to install, operate and manage our satellite and ground network in the UAE. Today is another equally important milestone with the award of the license to our subsidiary companies to offer satellite-based telecommunications services in our country. We appreciate all the assistance extended by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of UAE and their confidence in Yahsat. We have taken on the challenge to establish UAE as a premier telecommunications hub by offering world class satellite services,” said Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, CEO, Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat).
The duration of the licenses are 10 years and they can be renewed with the approval of the TRA.
