Using GEO satellites, it provides blanket coverage to 99 countries spanning Europe, North and Central Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, nearly 40 per cent of the world’s population.

The Thuraya Satellite was launched in October 2000

The Thuraya Country Code is +88216

Inmarsat 144kbps Data Service over Thuraya System

• Voice comparable to GSM
• Fax/Data of 2.4, 4.8 and 9.6kbps
• GPS location services
• Standard GSM Phase 2 services
• CLIP/CLIR facility
  

It is a turnkey project being built by Hughes Space and Communications International, Inc. (HSCI), at the cost of US$1 billion. Designed for a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, Thuraya’s satellite will maintain geosynchronous orbit at 44° East. The contract includes manufacture of two high power geo-synchronous satellites, the launch of the first satellite, manufacture and ainstallation of the ground network equipment, the manufacture of nearly a quarter of a million mobile handsets and the project insurance.

Dual-mode terminals will extend the reach of cellular users, enabling them to roam freely between urban areas served by GSM providers and outlying areas that can only be accessed using advanced satellite technology.

Thuraya anticipates a customer base of 1.8 million people, many of them comprising the national and regional roamer segments of mobile phone users. Those living in remote and sparsely populated areas, currently under served by existing networks of communications, will be able to use Thuraya’s services to link with the outside world. Additionally Thuraya’s services will be ideal for those working in remote industrial sites and marine operations, relief projects, as well those involved in regional and international transportation fleets.


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Thuraya Shareholders

The company was founded in January 1997 with an initial capital base of US $ 25 million. It increased to US $ 500 million by August of 1997 as the list of shareholders grew.

In December of 1998, Thuraya appointed a consortium of four banks to underwrite a loan of US $ 600 million for the remainder of the project cost.

• Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (ETISALAT) - UAE.
• Abu Dhabi Investment Company (ADIC) - UAE.
• Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ARABSAT)
• Qatar Telecom QSC (Q-Tel) - Qatar
• Al Murjan Trading and Industrial Company - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Dubai Investments PJSC - United Arab Emirates
• General Post & Telecommunications Company - Libya
• Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) - Kuwait
• Hughes Space & Communications International, Inc. (HSCI) - USA
• Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC (MTC) - Kuwait
• Bahrain Telecommunications Company (BATELCO) - Bahrain
• General Telecommunications Organization - Sultanate of Oman
• Public Telecommunications Corporation - Yemen
• Egypt Telecom - Egypt
• Itissalat Al Maghrib - Morocco
• Sudan Telecommunications Company Ltd (Sudatel) - Sudan
• Tunisie Telecom (Tunisia)
• Deutsche Telepost Consulting GmbH (DETECON) - Germany

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