UAE Regulatory Authority grants Yahsat a Satellite Services License

Al-Ghanim: TRA is constantly seeking to support a globally competitive telecommunications sector in the UAE, and licensing Yahsat will provide the region’s first multi-purpose satellite telecommunications system

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) awarded Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) a ten-year satellite services license for the installation, operation and management of a public telecommunications network and provision of satellite telecommunications services in the UAE. Under this license, Yahsat will offer a wide portfolio of voice, data, video and internet connectivity solutions designed to accommodate the demand for emerging applications in the satellite industry like HDTV and other broadband satellite services for both commercial and government for the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South-West Asia. The license comes under the Federal Law Decree No (3) for the year 2003 and its amendments.

The agreement was signed during a press conference by HE Mohammed Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General of TRA, and HE Waleed Al Muhairi, Chairman of Yahsat. The press conference was attended by executives and directors of departments from both sides and by local media.

Commenting on the licensing, Al Ghanim said “licensing Yahsat comes as confirmation of the role of TRA in driving the telecommunications market in the country to compete globally, through this license Yahsat will provide the region’s first multi-purpose satellite telecommunications system”. He added that “TRA’s strategy is aimed at supporting governmental entities and corporations alike in delivering their services and products by facilitating the registration process. The licensing of Yahsat for the installation, operation and management of a public telecommunications network and provision of telecommunications services that we issue today to Yahsat is a testimony of our support for the ICT sector”.

Al-Ghanim added: “The Authority’s regulatory framework for licensing contains two categories of licenses, individual licenses and class licenses, based on international best practices in the field”. This is the first individual license of this nature that the TRA has issued.

Furthermore, Al Ghanim noted that the TRA’s organizational objectives are derived from the UAE Telecommunications Law, its Executive Order and the UAE National Telecommunications Policy. These objectives may be summarized as: ensuring adequacy of telecommunications services throughout the UAE; achieving enhancement of services, both in terms of quality and variety; ensuring quality of service and adherence to terms of licenses by licensees; encouraging telecommunications and IT services within the UAE; promoting and enhancing the telecommunications sector within the UAE; promoting and developing the telecommunications sector in the UAE by training, development and the establishment of relevant training institutions; resolving any disputes between the licensed operators; establishing and implementing a regulatory and policy framework; promoting new technologies; and ensuring that the UAE becomes the regional ICT hub.

“We are honored and would like to thank the Telecom Regulatory Authority of UAE for their confidence in Yahsat. It is an important day for Yahsat and a great opportunity for a satellite company with firm roots in the UAE to address the satellite communications requirements of not only the nation but the region as well. We look to our continued cooperation with the TRA,” said Jassem Al Zaabi, Chief Executive Officer, Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat).