Thuraya

Connecting the unconnected
With Thuraya, comes a promise of seamless connectivity and connecting the unconnected. For the common man, satellite telecommunications is no longer a technology dream; Thuraya’s satellite telephony in hand means watching the distances disappear and staying connected with your loved ones always.

Established in 1997, Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company is a mobile satellite system that provides satellite telephone services to a region covering more than 110 countries in Europe, North, Central Africa and large parts Southern Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia. Thuraya offers satellite-based telephony through a dynamic mobile phone that combines Satellite, GSM & GPS.

Leader in satellite telephony…
Using the most sophisticated, technologically robust mobile satellite system available, Thuraya provides blanket coverage to nearly one third of the globe, a landmass inhabited by more than 2.3 billion people.

Since its service launch in 2001, Thuraya has maintained and reinforced its position as a world leader in the mobile satellite services industry, operating the highest quality satellite communication services for a diversity of sectors, businesses and communities in the region. Thuraya provides satellite, GSM, GPS, GmPRS, data, fax and SMS in an uninterrupted service footprint beyond the borders and limitations of landline and cellular networks.

Partnership with networks
Thuraya service is available through local telecom operators. The company complements, rather than compete with national operators, boosting their ability to extend the reach of their telecom services. As a facilitator of advanced technology, Thuraya aims to contribute to the development of telecommunications infrastructures in its coverage area. Thuraya continues to forge partnerships with national telecom providers, GSM network operators and licensed private entities, to expand into new markets that continually leverage Thuraya’s service portfolio and enrich people’s lives.

Subscribers throughout the coverage area choose Thuraya for many reasons. While Thuraya’s average cost of calls is highly competitive in the market, the Thuraya satellite handsets and products are most affordable in the market.

Smallest Satellite Phone in the World
Thuraya’s new generation handsets are technological breakthroughs. Thuraya SO-2510—weighing a mere 130gm—is the smallest satellite phone in the world, ideal for heavy users in areas with limited telecom connectivity; users who need only satellite service and in the form of a robust, highly portable handset. The Thuraya SG-2520 is the only satellite smartphone in existence; offering satellite service along with the full range of advanced features such as GSM triband, enhanced GPS services, a 1.3 megapixel camera, GmPRS, MMS and Bluetooth.

Thuraya also offers a wide range of accessories that complement the Thuraya phone including Fixed Docking Unit (FDU) that allows the usage of the Thuraya phone in an indoor environment such as home or office, the Vehicular Docking Unit, Car Charger, Earset, Travel Charger, Software Package, Standard Battery and Solar Charger.

Versatile Products and Services
Thuraya’s product and service portfolio is unmatched, in both range and value.

Delivering a promise of universal access to all, Thuraya’s rural telephony solutions offer the possibility of immediate and cost effective roll out of telecommunications in remote areas, some of which may have never been linked before.  The ThurayaPCO (public calling office) and the ThurayaPayphone are versatile solutions that link communities for emergency, trade and educational use. ThurayaPayphone and the ThurayaPCO come in different variations that can be configured to the needs of the customer.  They are simple solutions that can be set up quickly and easily, providing a revenue stream to their owners while providing a convenient and cost effective telecommunication tool for thousands of people around the world.

The ThurayaDSL—which provides Internet connectivity through a small and mobile terminal the size of a notebook, offers high speed 144 kbps connectivity anytime and anywhere in Thuraya's coverage area, and is especially ideal for corporate customers, government agencies and news-gathering agencies with a need for high-speed connectivity at competitive rates.

Thuraya’s new state-of-the-art phones are the first and only satellite mobile handsets in the world to offer GmPRS (Geo Mobile Packet Radio Service) providing continuous Internet connectivity. With the Thuraya SO-2510 and Thuraya SG-2520 phones, subscribers can enjoy reliable Internet access and efficient data transmission at speeds of up to 60/15 Kbps downlink/uplink. ThurayaGmPRS provides total convenience and freedom to browse the Internet, send and receive emails and access a wide range of useful online applications.

The service is ideal for people on the move—journalists, media professionals, oil and gas workers, NGOs, adventure seekers and frequent travellers whose work and lifestyles demand an “always on” satellite Internet access in places where local communication services are unreliable or unavailable.

Thuraya Roaming provides virtually 100% coverage in remote areas and in places where there is little or no GSM coverage and even in the open sea. With Thuraya Roaming, you can keep in touch with the world always using the smallest handset in the satellite industry.  Thuraya Roaming partnerships with GSM networks allow Thuraya subscribers to use their Thuraya mobile phones in GSM networks that have a roaming agreement with Thuraya.

The maritime industry has also enjoyed Thuraya’s technological advances with ThurayaMarine, a product designed for small and medium vessels in need of affordable on-ship call operations. Thuraya’s Crew Calling solution supports communal use of a terminal through pre-paid calling cards for individual crew-members.

Thuraya has also signed an agreement to develop and install an independent satellite network to link aeronautical fleets, demonstrating the versatility of Thuraya’s system to flexibly meet the needs of various industries. This major project will involve connecting fighter jets, surveillance planes and military helicopters to each other and to terrestrial bases.

Launching success again…
Thuraya launched its first satellite successfully on 21st October 2000 and rolled out services in less than a year later. The coverage area was consolidated with the launch of Thuraya 2 in June 2003, and now with the imminent launch of its third satellite in 2007, Thuraya is poised for yet another expansion, further towards the Asia Pacific region to cover a vastly populated yet underserved region in the world.

Thuraya was founded in the UAE by a consortium of leading national telecommunications operators and international investment houses. While Thuraya’s headquarters is based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Thuraya’s Primary Gateway- a striking structure is situated in the middle of a desert in Sharjah, UAE. Billed as the only such facility in the Middle East region, Thuraya’s Primary Gateway station is responsible for Thuraya’s entire network, in addition to serving as the mobile satellite system’s main digital exchange.