Abu Dhabi, UAE – March 16, 2023 – Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (“Yahsat” or “the Group”), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (“ADX”; under the symbol: YAHSAT, ISIN: AEA007501017), has partnered with Comtech (NASDAQ: CMTL) to develop its government Location Tracking Solutions (LTS) that will operate on Yahsat’s next-generation Thuraya 4-NGS system.

The agreement will see Comtech deliver Yahsat’s LTS Platform and User Terminals. Comtech’s development will help enable blended communications and enhanced location-based services for end users of Yahsat’s network. It is based on foundational technology that has been proven in a diverse array of use cases across global geographies for more than 20 years, with the technology continually updated to remain a cutting edge, state-of-the-art solution. Once combined with Thuraya’s satellite network, it will offer a best-in-class, secure satcom tracking, messaging, and Push-to-Talk (PTT) service to users. The LTS system is ideal for personnel and assets tracking and dynamic situational awareness enabling several applications such as assets management, emergency responders’ safety and multiple-team’s cohesive operation.

The platform is part of the Thuraya 4-NGS transformational program which will see Yahsat develop a range of advanced government and commercial solutions. The LTS platform will have 4 variants including personnel, vehicular, maritime and aeronautical terminals. It will give users command, control and situational awareness capabilities for mobile, and network connected headquarters. The LTS platform can operate over existing (Thuraya-2 and Thuraya-3) and future (Thuraya-4) space assets. 

The platform has been designed with high security and flexibility and employs advanced encryption and interference mitigation technologies to ensure secured end-to-end communications. The planned platform can be easily scalable with no designed-in limitations and can seamlessly interface with other Yahsat and customers’ systems for system interoperability. Yahsat’s LTS portfolio is planned to be in service in 2025.

Ali Al Hashemi, Group CEO, Yahsat, said: “We are proud to be partnering with Comtech on this significant project. This collaboration is testament to our commitment to innovation and our determination to provide our customers with the latest cutting-edge technologies. At Yahsat we have built a reputation as a forward-thinking satellite communications provider that is able to anticipate and solve challenges that prevent our customers from successfully achieving their goals. This approach perfectly synergizes with Comtech’s expertise and together we seek to shift the paradigm in location tracking and communications."

Ken Peterman, President and CEO, Comtech, said: “Comtech and Yahsat’s partnership will empower government and commercial users around the world by providing access to new communications, tracking, and network technologies,” said Ken Peterman, President and CEO, Comtech. “We are thrilled to partner with Yahsat to deliver the innovative global technologies needed to keep end users connected and informed, even in the most remote environments.”

Comtech’s communications capabilities and location-based services, including those provided to Yahsat, are designed to support the convergence of global communications infrastructures. With the merging of space, satellite, terrestrial, and wireless technologies, Comtech is uniquely positioned to enable hybrid network infrastructures that can open the door to a nearly endless number of applications and deliver connectivity to locations that have historically been underserved or unconnected.