DUBAI // Control of a newly-launched communications satellite has been handed over to Abu Dhabi technicians.
Y1B, an internet satellite that was shot into space on April 24, has now stabilised in a low earth orbit.
French firm Astrium, which oversaw the launch of the satellite, handed over control of the space device to its owners, Yahsat, last week.
"We are convinced that the arrival of Y1B will enhance the quality of coverage we provide," said Tareq Abdulraheem Al Hosani, chief executive of Yahsat.
It is the second satellite launched by the company.
The first, Y1A, was launched last year primarily as a broadcast satellite, although it offered some internet services on secure military connections.
Y1B will offer commercial broadband internet to 28 countries, starting from around the beginning of October, Mr Al Hosani said last month.
Monthly subscriptions to the internet service, called YahClick will start at around Dh73, he said. The service will be a key lifeline in parts of south-west Asia and north Africa, as well as areas of the UAE where fibre broadband is not yet available.
"We are targeting emerging markets," said Mr Al Hosani. "Some countries don't have the ground fibre network everywhere. Satellite broadband is a gap filler for them at the moment."
The satellite deployed its solar panels and entered a secure geostationary orbit, 23,000 miles above earth, on April 29.
It has been tested several times since then, and was officially handed over to Yahsat on May 11.
mcroucher@thenational.ae
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)
Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)
Day 3 stumps
New Zealand 153 & 249
Pakistan 227 & 37-0 (target 176)
Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey