The UAE’s Al-Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) has been awarded two 10-year satellite and broadcasting services licenses by the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

“The TRA strategy aims to widen the services and the packages offered in the market through satellite providers,” Mohamed al-Ghanim TRA director general said in a statement. “We fully believe that fair competition is a fundamental factor to drive the market forward and to ensure resourcefulness.”

The first licence, awarded to Yahsat subsidiary Al-Yah Advanced Satellite Communications Services (Al-Yah Advanced), will see the company provide telecoms services to the UAE government. 

The second licence, awarded to another Yahsat subsidiary, Star Satellite Communications Company (Star), will allow the company to provide a wide portfolio of telecoms services including broadband and broadcasting services within the UAE.

Yahsat is owned by the UAE’s Mubadala Development Company, an investment vehicle for the Abu Dhabi government. In March MEED reported that Yahsat had been awarded the UAE’s third telecoms licence.