
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 11 April 2017:- Under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, UAE-based satellite operator, Yahsat and the UAE Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, hosted a one-day forum in Geneva, to discuss Yahsat's initiative to support humanitarian emergency response and sustainable development projects around the world. Yahsat was supported by its service partner, IEC Telecom, a leading telecommunications operator.
Dignitaries at the event included His Excellency Ambassador Obaid Salem Al Zaabi Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, alongside all GCC UN Ambassadors, with other overseas missions represented by Jordan, Pakistan and Spain. Senior officials from various international humanitarian bodies also attended the forum to identify collaboration opportunities and strengthen the emergency response framework including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations' World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), The United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Organization for Migration(IOM).
Opening the inaugural Enabling through Connectivity' forum, His Excellency Obaid Salem Al Zaabi stressed upon the importance of the role private companies and satellite communications companies play during crisis response and sustainable development. He highlighted that Yahsat's approach is aligned to the UAE's vision for humanitarian efforts and reinforced the importance of wider industry collaboration.
Najat Abdulrahman, Yahsat Executive Director Global Strategic Business Development, spoke in greater depth on Yahsat's capabilities and solutions developed specifically for the humanitarian sector. She cited Yahsat's involvement with the Crisis Connectivity Charter as a prime example of cross-agency and private sector collaboration. The industry-wide initiative is designed to accelerate the ability of emergency response teams to access satellite-based communications in times of crisis.
Abdulrahman also discussed the impact of sustainable development projects in Asia and Africa, where the combined efforts of Yahsat, its service partners and government agencies, have resulted in local and regional socio-economic development. These include providing connectivity to remote libraries in South Africa, e-learning to Maasai community schools in Kenya and adult learning opportunities to women and children through the Karakoram Area Development Organization in northern Pakistan.
Commenting on the forum, Abdulrahman said: The satellite sector is now part of the first responder team that provides immediate communications links to support logistics, urgent medical care and coordinate relief. We believe that standing by the communities we serve during times of crisis is not an option, but an obligation.
Today's forum represents a stepping stone towards meeting the operational and communication requirements of humanitarian bodies in times of crises. We look forward to working with humanitarian organisations to assist people in periods of difficulty and ensure that relief efforts are carried out seamlessly, added Abdulrahman.
Erwan Emilian, CEO of IEC Telecom added When the IEC Telecom Group established its office in the UAE in 1998, we did so knowing all too well that our efforts in contributing to the advancement of the UAE's satellite communications will be met with the required support. Ten years on, we are now present in 10 countries around the world including Switzerland, where we meet today in Geneva. Our primary goal is to serve the humanitarian community regardless of landscape or circumstance. Our integrated offering of Yahsat's Yahclick service, vertical applications and Value Added Services provides a reliable high throughput connectivity to Emergency Response Units across many of the territories they operate in. .
Yahsat, one of the pioneers of Ka-band solutions, having launched its services across Africa, the Middle East and South West Asia in 2012, will extend its coverage to over 1 billion people with the launch of Al Yah 3 in 2017.
More from Yahsat
19/06/2025
Designed for multipurpose land and maritime use, the Thuraya Mobile Broadband Ho...
21/05/2025
Space42's debut at CommunicAsia 2025 to demonstrate advances in satellite communications, Earth observation, and high-altitude connectivity tailored for Asi...
21/05/2025
GIQ platform developed by Space42 in partnership with the UAE Space Agency, powe...
20/05/2025
Space42 to establish new Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite manufacturing ...
19/05/2025
The new High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) facility enables Mira Aerospace, ...
15/05/2025
Continued delivery across four strategic pillars provides foundation for multi-year scalable growth
Strong balance sheet, USD 895 million in cash and nearly US...
07/05/2025
Abu Dhabi, UAE [Date] Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-powered Space...
12/03/2025
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Copenhagen, Denmark: 12 March 2025: Space42...
11/03/2025
Abu Dhabi, UAE and Carlsbad, California 12 March 2025 Space42, (ADX: SPACE42...
03/03/2025
Abu Dhabi, UAE 3 March 2025 Thuraya, the satellite mobility arm of Space42, has Introduced Thuraya One, an Android 14 smartphone with built-in satellite cap...
27/02/2025
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 27 February 2025: Space42 PLC ( Space42 or the Company ), the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company that seamlessly integrates satellite comm...
19/02/2025
Collaboration enables long-term testing and evaluation support for HAPS platform...
18/02/2025
The AED 378 million contract between Space42's Bayanat Smart Solutions and EDGE's FADA will enhance the nation's geospatial capabilities over the ne...
17/02/2025
The joint venture will leverage Space42's and FADA's advanced technologi...
11/02/2025
Space42's debut at IDEX highlights AI-powered space technologys role in modern defense and security
The Space42 stand will have live demonstrations of mult...
15/01/2025
Foresight-1 and Foresight-2 will boost UAE's earth observation capabilities
Comprising the latest SAR technology in cooperation with ICEYE
Abu Dhabi, U...
04/01/2025
Thuraya 4 will provide more secure capacity, faster speeds, and wider coverage across Africa, Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East
Launching the busines...
17/12/2024
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 17 December 2024: Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-power...
10/12/2024
Abu Dhabi, UAE - 10 December 2024 Space42's Thuraya 4 telecommunications satellite, built by Airbus, has reached its destination at the Kennedy Space Cent...
09/12/2024
- The strategic joint venture addresses the growing demand for SAR satellite ima...
19/11/2024
The appointment reflects Space42s commitment to building a dynamic market enviro...
11/11/2024
Space42 and the Ministry of Education launch SpaceTech educational campaign for ...
30/10/2024
The launch follows the successful implementation on 27 oil wells using an oil an...
28/10/2024
The multi-design, state-of-the-art Space42 Arena in Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi w...
01/10/2024
Space42 is a new, UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company with a global reach, in...
30/07/2024
Resilient first half performance with stable Normalised EBITDA and net income
Revenue, profitability and cash flow guidance reiterated for the full year
Abu D...
18/07/2024
Yahsat accelerates efforts to expand in Zimbabwe following agreement with Satcom...
10/06/2024
- Fully flexible, software-defined payloads will allow in-orbit reconfiguration of coverage area, capacity and communication frequencies
- Full programme cost...
24/05/2024
The certification underscores world-class standards of services at Yahsat's Abu Dhabi Teleport
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 21 May 2024: Al Yah Satelli...
22/05/2024
EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite will enhance Yahsat's satellite network with mult...
14/05/2024
Highest ever Q1 revenue with Normalised EBITDA growth of 7%
Profitability, cash flow and capital expenditure guidance reiterated
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirat...
10/05/2024
Abu Dhabi, 10 May 2024: Further to our previous communications about the unexpec...
09/05/2024
The visit discussed potential for Yahsat to expand its presence in South Africa ...
25/04/2024
Bayanat AI PLC (ADX: BAYANAT), a leading AI-powered geospatial solutions provider, and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company P.J.S.C. (ADX: YAHSAT), the UAE...
23/04/2024
The merger will provide vertical integration potential and enhanced product offerings to capture regional and international opportunities for revenue growth and...
01/04/2024
Mr. Somani will oversee the development and implementation of the company's growth strategy and spearhead global strategic partnerships
Abu Dhabi, United A...
21/03/2024
- A circular was issued today setting both entities' General Assembly Meetin...
21/03/2024
- A circular was issued today setting both entities' General Assembly Meetin...
21/02/2024
The industry disruptive strategy is primed to transform the lives of billions of...
20/12/2023
Abu Dhabi, 20 December 2023: Further to the announcements made by Bayanat AI PLC...
20/12/2023
Abu Dhabi, 20 December 2023: Further to the announcements made by Bayanat AI PLC...
19/12/2023
The combination will bring together complementary capabilities to create a UAE-b...
27/11/2023
Yahsat's next-generation climate tech solutions to support efforts to mitiga...
21/11/2023
Asmira video compression technology delivers advanced capabilities to end users ...
16/11/2023
Yahsat's reliable and secure connectivity solutions to be installed on EDGE&...
15/11/2023
Dubai, 15 November, 2023: Bayanat (a leading provider of AI-powered geospatial s...
07/11/2023
Third quarter revenues grew 8% versus prior year, second highest on record
Nine-month revenues and Normalised EBITDA increased 3% underpinned by double digit g...
30/10/2023
The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world's largest corporate su...
23/10/2023
Service partnership agreement covers vital sectors including government, telemed...
17/10/2023
The innovative IoT Product provides tracking, locking and multiple sensing featu...