For Space42, the newly established AI-powered space technology champion of the United Arab Emirates, SpaceX launched the Thuraya-4 voice and data communication satellite on January 3rd. At 8:27 p.m. Eastern, the first Falcon 9 flight of 2025 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida putting the satellite in a geostationary transfer orbit.
With a 12 meter L band antenna the all electric Thuraya-4 which is based on the Airbus Eurostar Neo Platform offers mobile devices in Europe, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East narrowband connectivity.
In 2020, Yahsat which is a satellite operator located in the United Arab Emirates bought Thuraya-4 to replace two outdated Boeing built spacecraft in geostationary orbit (GEO). Yahsat joined with local artificial intelligence firm Bayanat in October to establish Space42.
A second satellite option that would have replaced mobile satellite services over Asia was part of the deal but it hasn’t been used. Before Airbus encountered problems with schedule and expense in its space division, Thuraya-4 was originally scheduled to launch in 2023. The satellite was also scheduled to launch in December of last year when SpaceX aimed to complete 148 orbiting missions.
With 134 Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches at the end of 2024, SpaceX surpassed the global total of 96 flights in 2023. SpaceX’s president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell reportedly stated that the company plans to launch 175-180 vehicles in 2025.
Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Space42’s Yahsat Space Services division, said in a statement that Thuraya-4 will help the company “unlock innovative AI-powered services for our global client base,” but did not elaborate.
Karim Sabbagh, managing director of Space42 stated in an interview conducted in October that the company is first concentrating on creating hybrid connectivity and geospatial services for developing industries like driverless cars.
Additionally, Space42 offers TV broadcasting and broadband services from three different GEO satellites. In order to expand these services Airbus is constructing two additional satellites for Space42, Al Yah-4 and Al Yah-5 which SpaceX plans to launch in 2027 and 2028, respectively. As part of a potential multi-orbit strategy that the company hasn’t spoken much about yet, Space42 has also placed an order for two low Earth orbit spacecraft from Airbus.
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