Today, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) granted “Al Yah Advanced Satel-lite Communications Services” (Al Yah Advanced) a ten-year satellite services license, and “Star Satellite Communications Company” (Star) a ten-year satellite and broadcasting services license, both effective as of 8th July, 2010.

While the Al Yah Advanced license is limited to providing telecommunications services to the UAE Government, the Star license allows Star to provide a wide portfolio of telecommunica-tions services to meet the high demand for emerging applications in the satellite industry such as turn-key telecommunications solutions, broadband services and broadcasting ser-vices . The licenses are granted pursuant to Federal Law by Decree No (3) of 2003, as amended.

Al Yah Advanced and Star are both subsidiaries of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company Yahsat”, which currently also holds a satellite services license from the TRA. The signing ceremony took place at the TRA headquarters in Abu Dhabi between H.E. Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA Director General and Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, the CEO of Yahsat.

Through its continuous efforts to develop the telecommunications sector in the UAE, and to guarantee fair competition between the service providers within the UAE market, the TRA has approved the designated companies to provide the satellite services, aiming to supply the market with a new and extensive variety of satellite services.

Mohamed Al Ghanim TRA Director General said: “The TRA strategy aims to widen the services and the packages offered in the market through satellite providers. We fully believe that fair competition is a fundamental factor to drive the market forward and to ensure resourcefulness.”

“The UAE telecom sector has witnessed massive changes within the last four years; we are aiming to position our country as a center for integrated telecommunications services. Issuing the licenses to Al Yah Advanced and Star will definitely add value to the telecom sector,” added Al Ghanim.

“We achieved a major milestone in February 2010, when Yahsat was awarded the satellite services license to install, operate and manage our satellite and ground network in the UAE. Today is another equally important milestone with the award of the license to our subsidiary companies to offer satellite-based telecommunications services in our country.

We appreciate all the assistance extended by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of UAE and their confidence in Yahsat. We have taken on the challenge to establish UAE as a premier telecommunications hub by offering world class satellite services,” said Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, CEO, Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat).

In accordance with the UAE telecom law and the TRA’s licensing framework, each license was issued at the cost of AED 100, 000 annually and falls within the category of Individual License. The duration of the licenses are 10 years and they can be renewed with the approval of the TRA.

About TRA-UAE

The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) was set up by government decree No. 3 of 2003. The TRA is a regulatory body that oversees the telecom sector and the licensees in the UAE in accordance with the Federal Law by Decree No.3 of 2003, and implements the in-structions of the Supreme Committee for Telecommunications.

The TRA is an independent body and its duties include ensuring telecom services are available to all provinces of the country, assuring that the licensed operators fully follow established rules and regulations, protecting the interests of subscribers, developing telecom sector and helping to implement the best and most advanced technologies.

For more information please visit: http://www.tra.gov.ae

About Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat)

Yahsat, the United Arab Emirates-based satellite communications company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala), provides multi-purpose satellite communications services to commercial and governmental clients in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South-West Asia. With a wide portfolio of voice, data, video and internet connectivity solutions, Yahsat satellites are designed based on market requirements and future applications. Yahsat is partnering with a consortium composed of EADS Astrium, Thales and Alenia Space to build a multi-purpose satellite communications system. The first satellite Y1A is currently being built and will be launched in the first quarter of 2011, and Y1B will follow in the second half of 2011.

Star Satellite Communications Company PrJsc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), is the commercial arm of the satellite business. Star leases Ku band (YahLive), Ka band (YahClick) and C band (YahLink) capacity to customers and enters services agreements with clients on behalf of Yahsat.

Al Yah Advanced Satellite Communications Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yahsat. Al Yah Advanced was created for the primary purpose of providing telecommunication services to the UAE Armed Forces under the “YahSecure” brand name.

For more information please contact:

Mrs. Huda Al Mutawa
Director, Corporate Communications Affair
UAE Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA)
Abu-Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +9712-6118250
Email: media@tra.gov.ae

Salma Al Mansouri
PR & Communications Manager
Tel: +9712 406 1111 Ext 152
Fax: +9712 406 11 00
Email: smansouri@yahsat.ae

Sweta Sewa
TBWA\RAAD\PR
Tel: +9714 425 8977
Fax: +971 4 426 7334
Email: sweta.sewa@tbwaraad.com