Satellite and Broadcasting

Thuraya Telecommunications has signed an agreement with VNPT VinaPhone making its land and maritime handsets available to the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT). Thuraya's first service agreement in Vietnam is helping VNPT VinaPhone establish satellite services, which was marked by a ceremony attended by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi on 4th August 2016.

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), a private joint stock company fully owned by Mubadala, has appointed Farhad Khan as its chief commercial officer (CCO). Farhad will assume the position and will be responsible for the overall customer operations, marketing and sales management activities of Yahsat

Sparkle announces that it will provide GÉANT with a 2,5 Gbps circuit from Marseille (France) to Annaba (Algeria), boosting the existing connectivity currently dedicated to Algeria's scientists, academics and students community. Sparkle has historically provided network solutions for GÉANT since 2002 to reinforce connectivity among education and research centers located in different countries including India, Tunisia, Malta, Morocco, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece. Currently Sparkle also provides GÉANT with 5Gbps connectivity to Brazil.

Thuraya Telecommunications Company and its long-standing service partner, Xtra-Link, will join forces to co-sponsor the 25th silver anniversary yacht race from Dubai to Muscat in November.

The Tunisian broadcasting corporation (ONT) has signed a multi-year contract with Eutelsat Communications to broadcast its new subscription-free TV platform across North and West Africa. ONT has selected the powerful EUTELSAT 7 West A satellite to reach viewers across the region.

DarkMatter, an international cyber security firm headquartered in the UAE, announces its participation as the Cyber Security Innovation Partner of GITEX Technology Week 2016. The technology exhibition and conference, which is the largest annual ICT gathering in the Middle East, is taking place from 16 - 20 October, 2016 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Telenor Satellite announced the commercial readiness of its THOR 7 Ka-band mobility service. The Ka-band payload offers regional coverage with a favorable look angle over the main European shipping lanes and utilizes high-powered spot beams, providing unprecedented performance for maritime applications.

Yahlive, the Abu Dhabi-based satellite joint venture between the world leading satellite operator SES and UAE satellite company Yahsat, announced on August 16 that it has signed a contract renewal with the BBC World Service. As part of the ongoing agreement, the BBC will continue the broadcast of its Persian and Arabic television channels as well as the radio programming from its Arabic and Afghan services to audiences across Yahlive's wide and culturally diverse footprint.

Thuraya Telecommunications Company announced the election of a new chairman, Eng. Saleh Al Abdooli.