By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: UAE’s first satellite – Y1A – which is aimed to serve military, civilian and commercial purposes of the country, will blast off from France March 30 at 1 a.m.
It is built by YahSat, the Abu Dhabi-based satellite communications company.
According to the chief executive officer of the YahSat company, Mohammed Al Za’abi, the second of the two hybrid satellites to be sent to the orbit by the company will be launched by the end of current year.
Al Yahsat Satellite Communications Company, YahSat, which is a part of Mubadala Development Company, an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government, announced its plans in year 2010 to launch two hybrid satellites designed to provide communication facilities to commercial and governmental users.
The satellite communications programme that could cost $1.6 billion is placed to open new avenues of business opportunities in the country.
The satellite will serve military networks, rural communications, border control services and emergencies and disaster relief agencies.
It will cover a population that crosses one billion in 46 countries in Middle East, Africa, Europe and West Asia.