UAE - Mubasher: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has selected NanoAvionics, a smallsat manufacturer and mission integrator company with facilities in North America and Europe, to design, build, and manage the launch of two nanosatellites 3U and 6U.

Launching nanosatellites is in line with DEWA’s space-D programme that aims to enhance the operations and maintenance of Dubai's water and power networks through nanosatellite technology, according to a press release on Wednesday.

Space-D will enable DEWA to cut costs, improve its asset utilisation, and provide sustainable, efficient, and reliable power and water services to its customers.

DEWA will use a 3U satellite with an Internet of Things (IoT) payload and a 6U satellite with an Earth Observation (EO) payload to raise the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations, maintenance, and planning.

As part of the agreement, NanoAvionics will also manage and construct the ground station and introduce a training programme for Emirati professionals to facilitate know-how transfer and foster DEWA’s future space capabilities.

The Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, commented: "The programme will take advantage of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and blockchain to exchange information with the help of satellite communications and earth observation technologies."

Meanwhile, the Co-founder and CEO of NanoAvionics, Vytenis J Buzas, said: "Our team has been part of more than 90 missions, including four successfully launched missions this year, and has previous experience in sharing its skills and knowledge through programmes with other international customers."