UAE wants 3,240 ‘Deep Thought’ satellites
August 19, 2026

By Chris Forrester



The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has filed a formal submission to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for 3,240 non-geostationary satellites. The constellation is called ‘Deep Thought’.

Details are scarce, but the filing is made by Al Yah Satellite Communications. Al Yah owns the YahSat portfolio of satellites and services including YahClick and YahLive. SES is a joint-venture partner with YahSat with its YahLive DTH service.


However, Al Yah is now a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based Space42 having merged with Emirati firm Bayanat in October 2024.

Space42 is known to have a proposed joint-venture with California-based Viasat although the scheme (Equatys) only talked about 2,800 satellites.

It is likely – but far from confirmed – that Deep Thought is also the Equatys scheme.