Abu Dhabi firm delays satellite launch

An Abu Dhabi communication firm is experiencing delays launching a second satellite. On the heels of a March 2011 delay to send Yahsat's first satellite Y1A into orbit, officials with Al Yah Satellite Communications Company confirmed yesterday that it is hitting technical delays once again with the launch of its second satellite, Y1B. Last year, Yahsat decided to scrap its original launch date for Y1A from a launchpad at the European Space Centre in Kourou, French Guyana, after there were reportedly problems with the apparatus involved in blasting the Ariane 5 rocket. While the Y1A satellite was eventually sent to orbit in April last year to provide TV broadcasting and TV services from Africa eastward through the Middle East and into Southeast Asia, the company hit similar troubles yesterday with its newest satellite. Company officials were unable for comment yesterday. However, in a statement, Yahsat said that it was pushing back its satellite launch to April after "two failed launch attempts" of the Y1B in December and January. The launch attempts from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan were aborted "due to reasons beyond its control". "The rescheduled January launch date of the satellite was again cancelled due to technical reasons with its ILS Proton launch vehicle," Yahsat said. Tareq Abdul Rahim Al Hosani, Yahsat CEO, said: "The delay is unfortunate but it is well-known that launch delays, and the ‘domino effect' they often have on the subsequent launches, is a risk that the satellite industry must face. However, we are actively working with our partners to minimise the impact of the delay by using this time to optimise our planned post launch testing for the Y1B satellite and associated services. Number of services "We are also working with our partners to minimise the delay in our commercial roll-out and are looking at ways we can begin these as early as possible," he said. The company said that the Y1B "will provide broadband satellite communication, internet and corporate data transfer services across the Middle East, Africa, and South West Asia". Yahsat said its newest satellite will offer a number of services including "voice, data, video and internet connectivity solutions designed to accommodate the demand for emerging applications including satellite broadband, HDTV and other satellite services".