Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) signed its first service partner agreement for “YahClick,” Yahsat’s satellite broadband service with Intersat Africa Limited, an established provider of satellite-based Internet services. As part of the service agreement, Intersat will roll out YahClick in Africa. Star Satellite Communications Company PrJsc is a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat).

Intersat’s initiatives in Africa include a number of programs in the area of education, including its involvement in an e-school project that aims to provide communications, technology skills and knowledge to primary and secondary school students in Africa.

YahClick will offer broadband via satellite, to deliver reliable high-speed Internet connectivity for home users and businesses in areas with limited or no Internet access, at costs comparable to terrestrial services. This will be provided by Y1B, Yahsat’s second satellite which will be launched in the second half of 2011. Prior to the launch, Yahsat will partner with additional service providers in 2010, to ensure timely planning and preparation.

“YahClick will fast track the deployment of affordable broadband services and play a key role in connecting communities and creating informed societies. Our partnership with Intersat will ensure that the service is instantly available to consumers when we launch Y1B,” said Jassem Al Zaabi, CEO of Yahsat. “Intersat have the vision, capabilities and experience to successfully rollout the YahClick service.”

"Our partnership with Yahsat presents us with a perfect opportunity to enhance our range of satellite broadband services over Africa. The YahClick Ka-Band consumer and enterprise broadband service compliments Intersat's vision of empowering rural Africa with affordable and sustainable access to information and communication technology,” said Abdul Bakhrani, CEO, Intersat Africa Limited.

Y1B will be the first satellite in the region to offer Internet connectivity through the latest technology, the Ka-band multi-spot beams, with reusable frequencies to maximize spectrum efficiency. The multi spot-beam technology means greater efficiency on the ground, which enables use of a smaller antenna size with a low power amplifier.

Due to the highly flexible system design, Yahsat’s partners who provide the YahClick service will bundle hardware and software services; offering packages tailor-made for specific markets and user segments, from basic internet access for a home user to high speed service plans for the corporate user.