A third telecom company has been granted a licence to operate in the UAE providing further choice and competition for consumers.

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) was granted a 10-year licence by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

The company will offer voice, data, video and internet connectivity solutions, including HDTV and broadband satellite, Emirates Business reports.
 <!-- Article Start -->"The licensing of Yahsat comes as confirmation of the role of TRA in driving the country's telecommunications so it can compete globally," TRA Director-General Mohammed Nasser Al Ghanim was quoted as saying.

"Through this licence Yahsat will provide the region's first multi-purpose satellite telecommunications system.
Yahsat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mubadala Development Company. The licence gives it permission to install, operate and manage a public telecommunications network and provide satellite telecom services in the UAE.

Waleed Al Muhairi, a company spokesman, said the satellites would be available in 81 countries and are scheduled to be launched in the first and second quarters of 2011.