Article Posted on : - Apr 19, 2012

An artistic illustration of Yahsat satellite.

BAIKONUR (BNS): Russia's Proton carrier rocket will launch the second Yahsat series communications satellite for United Arab Emirates next week.

The Y1B satellite will be launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 24, Thales Alenia Space, which has built the Yashat series of satellites along with Astrium, said.

The first satellite of the series, Y1A, was launched by the Ariane 5 rocket from European spaceport in French Guiana in April 2011.

Comprising two satellites and a ground segment, the Yahsat system is designed to provide a fully secure telecommunications infrastructure for the UAE military, as well as offering innovative solutions to commercial operators for broadcasting, internet trunking via satellite, corporate data networks and other technologically advanced services.

The Y1B satellite will provide high-data rate internet services for public and private users in the Middle East, Africa and South West Asia with state-of-the-art Ka-band multi spot-beam technology.