Edinburgh, 10 September 2021. – Yahsat has chosen SpaceX to launch its Airbus Defence and Space-built Thuraya 4-NGS next-generation mobile connectivity satellite, the companies announced. The terms of the contract have not been disclosed by either side.
Yahsat selected Airbus to develop Thuraya 4-NGS last year. The preliminary design review in June found that the development of the satellite was on schedule. Thuraya 4-NGS will replace the two existing satellites providing L-band mobile voice and data services built by Boeing. Thuraya is focused on narrowband mobility and portability, competing with Iridium and Inmarsat, the company said.
Yahsat is planning to release more details about the satellite’s capabilities later. The company expects the project to generate US $47 million a year in revenue over its 15-year life. This could contribute towards the company’s backlog of US $2.1 billion. Yahsat originally planned in an option for a second satellite, Thuraya 5-NGS but it is not yet known whether the firm will go ahead with it.
The launch of Thuraya 4-NGS on a Falcon 9 is planned for 2023.
