Space42, the newly formed entity combining Abu Dhabi’s Al Yah (YahSat) and Bayanat AI, which operates the Thuraya satellite fleet, has launched its latest satellite, Thuraya 4, into transfer orbit on January 3rd. The satellite is en route to its final position at 44 degrees East. Thuraya 4 is expected to generate a substantial revenue backlog of $799 million, and Space42 is planning to introduce Direct-to-Device (D2D) services through a new low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation.
The UAE government has committed nearly $800 million over a 15-year period to support Space42’s mission. Thuraya 4 will replace Thuraya 2, launched in 2003, although Thuraya 2 continues to operate. However, Thuraya 3, launched in 2008, has faced power issues, leading to lower revenue from the satellite.
Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Space42’s Yahsat Space Services division, expressed the company’s ambition to become a global leader in non-terrestrial communications. The company aims to provide D2D and Internet of Things (IoT) services, initially focusing on basic text and short-message services using its geostationary satellites. Space42 plans to leverage 20 MHz of spectrum for D2D services as it cautiously enters the market. Despite the conservative approach, Al Hashemi remains confident in the business case for these services.
