2 Month delay for Yahsat satellite launch

The launch of the second satellite from UAE-based Al Yah Satellite Communications (Yahsat) has been delayed until April, following two failed launch attempts of the SES-4 satellite in Kazakhstan recently. "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," said Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, chief executive, Yahsat. "However, we are actively working with our partners to minimize the impact of the delay by using this time to optimize our planned post launch testing for the Y1B satellite and associated services. We are also working with our partners to minimize the delay in our commercial roll-out and are looking at ways we can begin these as early as possible," he added. Yahsat's six tonne satellite Y1B – which was due for launch in February - will be launched by a Proton-M launch vehicle with a Briz-M booster, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan. It will provide high definition (HD) satellite television and other broadcast services, broadband satellite communications, Internet and corporate data transfer services across the Middle East, Africa and South West Asia. Its predecessor, the Y1A satellite was successfully launched in April 2011 from the European Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. It is now utilised by Yahsat's partner YahLive for the provision of HD satellite broadcasting services across the Arab world.