Satnews Daily
November 18th, 2015

Yahsat Expanded Into Africa Via Al Yah 3 Satellite + Hughes' JUPITER™ Platform


[Satnews] UAE-based satellite operator Yahsat and Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) have announced the award of a major contract for Hughes to deliver its JUPITER™ System and related network operations services in support of Yahsat’s planned expansion across Africa in early 2017 with the launch of its new Ka-band satellite, Al Yah 3. 

The multi-year contract calls for Hughes to supply its award-winning JUPITER System gateways and broadband terminals together with its Operating Support System (OSS) and Business Support System (BSS) solutions as a turnkey outsourced managed service. Yahsat’s position as the world’s eighth largest operator in terms of revenue will be further strengthened by the extended coverage of Al Yah 3 to wider parts of Africa. Al Yah 3 will bring additional connectivity into 18 African countries for consumers, SOHO and enterprise segments.


Artistic rendition of the upcoming Al Yah 3 satellite.

Image is courtesy of Yahsat.

The third Yahsat satellite, Al Yah 3, is scheduled for service launch in early 2017, extending the company’s commercial Ka-band coverage to 60 percent of Africa’s population. The procurement of the JUPITER platform is in preparation for the new satellite and is in line with Yahsat’s strategy to widen and deepen its reach and continuously enhance its product offerings.

Al Yah 3, with support from Hughes, will strengthen Yahsat’s position as the world’s eighth largest operator in terms of revenue as the satellite company’s coverage will be extended to wider parts of Africa. Yahsat is currently participating at AfricaCom 2015, Cape Town, South Africa at Stand E1, until 19th November, 2015.

Executive Comments

Commenting on the new contract, David Murphy, Yahsat chief commercial officer, said, “Yahsat has been operating across Africa since 2012. Today we are the market leader, with established service partners in nine countries. Our collaboration with Hughes further expands our commitment in the region enabling next-generation broadband services across the continent and allows Yahsat to better address evolving market requirements in Africa, from broadband access to mobile backhaul for telcos and ISPs. Moreover, as the new Ka-band coverage goes live, the JUPITER System will ensure consistency and smooth transition across respective countries.” 

Yahsat’s decision to expand our relationship is a testament to the high quality of both Hughes technology and outsourced network operations,” said Bahram Pourmand, Hughes’ executive vice president, International. “Our JUPITER System has proven to be the platform of choice globally to power high-throughput satellite services and we are confident that it will further strengthen Yahsat’s market-leading presence in the region across the African service footprint of Al Yah 3.”