The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has awarded Al Maisan Satellite Communications Company (YahLive), a 10-year satellite services licence for Broadcasting Satellite Transmission of Services.

This licence enables YahLive to transmit direct-to-home satellite television services from the UAE.

YahLive’s services will be available throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Southwest Asia and Europe. YahLive’s dedicated European coverage will provide regional and local channels to Arab audiences in Europe. The signing ceremony was held in TRA’s head office in Abu Dhabi, said a statement.

The license states that Al Maisan Satellite Communications Company, a joint venture between Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), a private joint stock company owned by Mubadala – an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi Government, and SES Astra (Europe’s leading DTH satellite operator), will provide Direct-to-Home satellite services to free-to-air and pay-TV broadcasters in this region.

The Yahsat 1A spacecraft, procured by YahLive from a consortium of EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, was successfully launched on April 23rd. YahLive will commercialize 23 Ku-Band BSS transponders on the Yahsat 1A spacecraft. The satellite is located at the 52.5 degrees East orbital position, it said.

The TRA signed a similar agreement granting a license to MZ intaj FZ LLC (twofour54). In accordance with the license issued, twofour54 from its base in Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi, will provide both full time and occasional satellite uplink services for broadcasting purposes and TVRO (Television receive only) downlink satellite services. Twofour54 customers will be companies located in and carrying out business in the Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi. –TradeArabia News Service