Abu Dhabi-based Yahsat says its Thuraya-3 mobile communications satellite suffered a major outage problem on April 15th. While the Boeing-built satellite is being investigated, the operator has admitted that its transmission services will be significantly diminished.

The craft was launched in 2008 and operated from 98.5 degrees East. It had a planned design life of 15 years and was no longer insured. Thuraya-3 provides L-band mobile satellite services predominantly over South and East Asia and the Pacific region.

Yahsat, in an announcement from CEO Ali Al-Hashemi, said the satellite was safe under control, and that it was working hard to implement recovery coverage using other satellites. The company operates Thuraya-2 from the 44 degrees East position.

Last month, Yahsat announced that its mobility division, helped by Thuraya-3, had generated a sharp increase in revenues and that its Thuraya-based mobile handsets was enjoying increased demand.

A new high-technology satellite, Thuraya-4, is under construction by Airbus Defence & Space and planned to launch in December this year by SpaceX. Thuraya-4 has a massive 12-metre wide antenna although the craft is currently designed and configured to be an ‘all-electric’ satellite which tends to mean a longer period of orbit raising. That could be changed.

Yahsat itself is in the process of merging with UAE-based Bayanat.

Yahsat is holding a Board Meeting on April 25th to “consider general business, operational and strategic items that do not affect the Company’s share price.”

Other posts by Chris Forrester:

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3. Full details of SES, Intelsat deal
4. Ariane 6 launch campaign underway
5. Virgin Galactic in stock split
6. AST SpaceMobile hit by Class Action
7. Optimism under threat at SES
8. Rivada visits Terran Orbital’s manufacturing HQ
9. Avanti wins spectrum debt obligation case

Categories: Blogs, Inside Satellite, Satellite

Tags: satellite, Thuraya, yahsat