UAE and Panasonic sign for new YahSat sat-constellation
August 12, 2016
By Chris Forrester
Abu Dhabi-based YahSat has signed an MOU with electronics giant Panasonic and its Avionics division to study a potential satellite constellation to serve the aircraft and maritime businesses.
At a signing ceremony on August 10th YahSat CEO Masood Mahmood and Panasonic Avionics CEO Paul Margis, said they would jointly study the prospects for a future YahSat-built mobile broadband constellation over the MENA region.
The MOU includes the use of Panasonic equipment and technologies. “YahSat and Panasonic will assess the various technical requirements for such an offering,” a statement said. “The companies will explore a wide range of factors including the type of frequency to be used, the coverage and capacity needed to serve flight routes in this [MENA] region, the type of antenna and radome to be used, and the certification requirements of such a solution.”
YahSat, in which SES of Luxembourg has a stake via the YahLive DTH 23-transponder operation, already operates a pair of satellites YahSat 1A and 1B, and the study says that a constellation could emerge within the next three-to-five years.