UAE-based satellite operator Yahsat announced the successful restoration of services to Thuraya’s satellite customers in Southeast Asia and most of China after the Thuraya 3 satellite went offline in mid-April.
Located in the 98.5° E geostationary orbital slot, Thuraya 3 provides L-band mobile satellite services primarily over South and East Asia and the Pacific region. Yahsat reported on April 16 that the satellite experienced an “unexpected payload anomaly,” disrupting services in Thuraya 3’s coverage area. While the satellite remains under control, it is no longer usable, Yahsat confirmed in early May.
On Friday, Yahsat announced that Thuraya services have been restored in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Western Malaysia, Western Indonesia, Singapore, and the majority of China. The company reported an increase in both voice and packet service traffic in these markets.
Media reports indicate that Yahsat achieved this by shifting services to its Thuraya 2 satellite at 44° E over East Africa and reconfiguring it to cover the affected service areas. However, Asia-Pacific customers east of Thuraya 2’s footprint remain without service. Thuraya’s Australian service partner Pivotel confirmed that services in Australia are permanently closed, offering customers the option to switch to Iridium and Inmarsat at discounted rates.
Thuraya 3 was launched in 2008 with a designed service life of 15 years, which expired early last year. Thuraya 2 has been in orbit since 2003 with a designed service life of 12 years. Yahsat stated that Thuraya is “fully focused on recovering services in the remaining impacted Asia Pacific territories.”
