Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company, has officially announced the global availability of its next-generation mobile communications satellite, Thuraya-4 (T4-NGS). The launch marks a significant step in expanding secure, high-performance connectivity to over 100 countries across Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. New markets such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia are also now covered.
The T4-NGS represents the next phase of Space42’s mission to merge connectivity with artificial intelligence. Building on Thuraya’s 25-year legacy, now under the Space42 umbrella, the satellite transforms communications infrastructure into a multi-vertical platform designed for scale and sustainability. In addition, it carries a 15-year government contract worth USD 708 million, underscoring its central role in Space42’s mobile satellite services business.
Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Space Services at Space42, said: “Thuraya-4’s commercial readiness is a major milestone for Space42. It strengthens our Non-Terrestrial Network leadership, showing how we translate long-term vision into global scale and commercial growth. By combining connectivity with next-generation technology, we are building a more adaptable, resilient communications ecosystem that will support customers, partners, and markets for years to come.”
Expanding Global Connectivity
Operating on the L-band spectrum, Thuraya-4 ensures reliable performance across the most demanding environments — from remote energy operations to ships at sea and aircraft in flight. It delivers continuous coverage where terrestrial networks cannot reach, supporting real-time data transfer and mission-critical coordination across multiple industries.
Built on the Airbus Eurostar Neo platform and launched in January 2025, Thuraya-4 ranks among the largest and most advanced mobile communications satellites in orbit. Its 12-meter reflector antenna and software-defined architecture provide speeds exceeding 1 Mbps. Moreover, the satellite can be reconfigured in orbit through remote software updates, giving Space42 the flexibility to dynamically manage bandwidth, optimise coverage, and seamlessly integrate with terrestrial networks.
A New Era for Space42
The satellite’s system architecture supports Internet of Things (IoT) and Direct-to-Device connectivity, allowing smartphones and sensors to connect directly without specialised terminals. Thuraya-4 introduces 16 new products across multiple domains:
- Land: IP NEO M/C for broadband mobility and Commander NEO for secure field operations.
- Broadband Data: Voyager NEO for Comms-on-the-Move (COTM) applications.
- Maritime: Orion NEO for offshore connectivity.
- Airborne: T320, T420, and T220 terminals for fixed-wing, rotary, and UAV aircraft.
- Deployable Networks: Mobile Gateway M/C NEO for instant communications, supported by a compact IP Handset.
- Beyond Line of Sight: T-TAC tactical transceiver system extending UHF/VHF communications across multiple terrains.
Thuraya-4’s activation follows several milestones within Space42’s expanding ecosystem — including the launch of three synthetic-aperture radar satellites in its Foresight Earth Observation Constellation, the availability of its geospatial intelligence platform GIQ on Microsoft Azure, and the ongoing expansion of satellite manufacturing capacity in the UAE. Together, these advancements reaffirm Space42’s role as a key driver in the evolution of global space communications.
