Yahsat, the UAE-based global satellite operator has successfully launched their third satellite this year into space and have completed its orbit testing. It has been announced this Wednesday that the satellite is now ready to start offering their commercial services.

Yahsat is wholly owned by the Mubadala Investment Company, and in a statement, earlier this week on Wednesday announced the successful mission completion of Al Yah 3. The mission of this operation was to expand Yahsat’s Ka-band coverage to 19 additional markets across Africa, thereby giving them an advantage of covering 60 percent of the population. The satellite had been launched from French Guiana in the month of January earlier this year and made its way successfully into the orbit.

The successful launch of the Yahsat 3 was well commended by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. He tweeted in a series of tweets: “This is yet another achievement for the Emirati youth and the UAE. The satellite Yahsat 3 was successfully launched with the participation and management of the UAE. Today, the UAE youth are reaching new heights and realizing new achievement and ambition. This is what Zayed wanted them to be”.

He also tweets: “The UAE space project is rapidly moving forward thanks to the unlimited support and continuous follow-up by my brother Mohammad Bin Zayed. Our investments in the aerospace sector amount to Dh 20 billion. We have the largest space sector in the region and soon the first Arab probe will reach Mars. Thank you Mohammad Bin Zayed.”

The successful event was well lauded by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, for their success and also gave them an assurance of the country’s continuous support.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said in a tweet, “Congratulations to all Yahsat teams and partners. We will continue to support our ambitious youth and national institutions and invest in the development of technologies to serve our strategic objectives and benefit the people.” He added, “The UAE is making great strides in the field of the future sciences and communications technology. The success of the Yahsat satellite mission, with the participation of talented young Emiratis, embodies our vision to build a better future for UAE and humanity.”

Having access to the internet is a key factor to the economic growth and the social progress for the nation is what Masoud M. Sharif Mahmoud, CEO of Yahsat had to say. He also says, “Today, broadband connectivity is playing an important role in creating new opportunities and in accelerating innovation. We are excited by the opportunity Al Yah 3 brings in our ability to deliver reliable and affordable satellite broadband services to parts of the world that need it the most, building upon our previous achievements as pioneers of such services across Africa, the Middle East and south-west Asia.”