Thuraya satellite phone service was launched in 2001 to offer high quality, affordable satellite communications to areas of high population, where coverage of GSM does not exist or is limited. The Thuraya coverage area includes North and Central Africa, Middle East, India, Central Asia and Europe. Thuraya satellite phones use the latest available Satellite phone technology, and provides the first truly pocket size handheld satellite telephone, with Thuraya's exceptional voice clarity and low airtime rates, including the use of low denomination Pre Pay scratch cards and competative tariffs.

The Thuraya satellite phone network is an advanced geo-synchronous mobile satellite system providing access to Satellite. It offers the facility for high quality voice, voice mail and SMS, together with an in built GPS. Thuraya's Data/fax facilities are available through the optional data kit with speeds obtainable up to 9600bps which means reliable email or even web browsing.

Thuraya allows you to roam with your Thuraya phone handset across nearly one third of the globe. If you are in Thuraya's coverage area you can call to, and receive a call from, anywhere in the world. Even outside the Thuraya coverage area you may still be able to use your Thuraya phone in GSM mode, through a Thuraya GSM roaming partner. The handset can be used as a Thuraya Satellite only, GSM only, or auto switching between the two, subject to the type of airtime package chosen.

About Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company

Located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thuraya is the operator of a regional mobile satellite system and will provide personal communications services based on a geostationary satellite system. This system is intended to cover an area of more than 100 countries in Europe, North and Central Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Thuraya services will include voice, fax, and data services, and will be offered via handheld, vehicular, and fixed terminals to users throughout the coverage area.

What is Thuraya?

Thuraya is a regional mobile satellite system that provides satellite telephone services to a region covering 99 countries. Thuraya's footprint includes the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, Central Asia, North and Central Africa, and Europe. Thuraya offers satellite-based telephony through a dynamic mobile phone that combines satellite, GSM & GPS.

Designed for a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, Thuraya's satellite is in geo-synchronous orbit, positioned 36,000 km above the earth at 44 degrees east above the equator, which roughly is above the African country of Somalia.

The Thuraya system includes a spare ground satellite that may be launched at a later date as a back up and a third that could be used to expand system capacity.

Its Primary Gateway is situated in Sharjah, UAE, and acts as the operation centre for the mobile satellite system.

How does it work?

We will now discuss some topics that will help you getting started with your Thuraya satellite telephone.

Satellite Thuraya 2

June 06, 2003 -- The Boeing-built Thuraya-2 mobile communications satellite undergoes final preparations at Boeing Satellite Systems' in El Segundo, Calif. The Boeing GEO-Mobile satellite was built for Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company of United Arab Emirates to support Thuraya's mobile data and voice services business. The satellite features a unique mesh transmit-receive reflector that is visible in its stowed, wrapped configuration in the upper center of the spacecraft. This antenna expanded to 12.25 meters (40 feet) by 16 meters (52 feet) in orbit and enables the satellite handle nearly 14,000 simultaneous phone calls.

Whether you're in need of a satellite-based mobile phone for travel or a fixed phone for remote but economical on-site communication, Thuraya offers world-class products and services, including high quality voice, roaming and Short Messaging Service (SMS), and later in the year 2000 positioning, asynchronous dial-up fax and data services up to 9,600 bps. Thuraya's mobile satellite phones, only slightly larger than traditional cellular phones, are built by three of the world's top wireless manufacturers, Ericsson, Qualcomm and Telit. These phones are multi-mode and work with terrestrial AMPS, CDMA, or GSM networks, as well as the Thuraya satellite network. Fixed phone options include models manufactured by Ericsson and Qualcomm, and public payphones, built by Schlumberger. A wide assortment of accessories is also available for increased freedom in the field, in your car or on your boat.

Thuraya concept, implementation/technology

Concept

Calling satellite phone "the next big thing," Stern said on his morning show that commercial phone is no longer a safe haven for shock jocks like him.

About Thuraya System

Thuraya is a consortium of leading international telecommunications companies originally established in 1991. The Thuraya system is designed to provide high quality satellite-based services to a broad range of users, including:

• Voice calling
• Short Messaging Service (SMS)
• Roaming
• Positioning
• Facsimile
• Data transmission

Thuraya meets the needs of cellular users who roam outside of coverage areas, people who work in remote areas where terrestrial systems do not exist, residents of under-served markets who can use Thuraya's fixed-site phones to satisfy their needs for basic telephony, and international travelers who need to keep in constant touch. The Thuraya constellation consists of 48 LEO (Low Earth Orbiting) satellites, with an additional four satellites in orbit as spares, and operates at an altitude of 876 miles (1414 km) in space.

Thuraya Global Coverage

Thuraya Satellites

The Thuraya satellite is simple and proven. Each consists of an antenna, a trapezoidal body, two solar arrays and a magnetometer.

General Characteristics:

Total weight - 450kg

Number of Spot beams - 16

Power - 1100W

Lifetime - 7.5 years

Allocated frequencies: Direction Frequency

Thuraya Phone-Satellite 1610-1625,5MHz

Satellite-Thuraya Phone 2483,5-2500MHz

Satellite-Gateway 6875-7055MHz

Gateway-Satellite 5091-5250MHz

The satellites are placed in eight orbital planes of six satellites each, inclined at 52 degrees to provide service on Earth from 70 degrees North latitude to 70 degrees South.

Mobile Satellite Services

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Satellite Capacity Leasing

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