São Paulo – From Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the company Yahsat is increasing its presence in Brazilian territory. Offering Internet services via satellite, it arrives this Monday (20) in Bahia and Rio de Grande do Sul. In the company’s expansion plan, with these new coverages, there are only three states left to reach its target of 21 Brazilian states by the end of 2019. The information was released by the company.
In Bahia, Yahsat will operate in 42 cities. To attract consumers, the company offers the first monthly payment. Active until May 31, the offer is also valid in São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Mato Grosso, Piauí, Amazonas, Pará, and Rio Grande do Sul.
Last year, the operator announced an investment of BRL 227.5 million (USD 56.7 million) to build a storage and distribution center in Curitiba, Paraná, where it had chosen to run its operation out in Brazil. Plans offered by the Emirati company include broadband of 6 to 25 MB, with 20 to 40 GB. Its bundles serve small and medium business as well as home users.
According to the company, all Brazilian costumers will be served by the satellite Al Yah 3, launched in January 2018, and responsible for sending the Ka band signal for the entire territory. Yahsat is one of the business of the Mubadala Investment Company, which acts in different sectors. It is also the first company from the Middle East and Africa to offer Internet services via satellite in band Ka. With five satellites, the company has already invested USD 200 millions in Brazil and plans to be present in over 1,000 Brazilian cities in 21 states by the end of 2019.
Last April, Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communication Department of Broadband director Artur Coimbra Oliveira told ANBA about Arab companies’ participation in Internet services in Brazil. One of the challenges is to increase the Internet coverage in rural areas, a sector where companies such as Yahsat has shown interest. According to Oliveira, 75% of Brazilians have access to Internet in their homes, but this number falls to 40% when it comes to rural locations.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
