Pakistan launches the start of Thuraya Commercial Services today in Islamabad this week, as part of the gradual services rollout in the coverage area spanning Europe, North and Central Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the South Asia
Thuraya's Chairman Mohammad Omran said: “The launch of Thuraya commercial services in Pakistan, which constitutes a major market within the coverage area, is a key milestone for Thuraya . We are determined to fulfill our promises to provide high quality satellite communications at a cost affordable by the majority of the people of Pakistan through our partnership with Pakistan Telecommunication Company, Thuraya's service provider, and International Marketing & Trading Company, Thuraya's distributor”.
Thuraya will provide its customers in Pakistan with mobile telecommunications services including voice, data and fax up to 9.6 kbps, SMS and GPS, adding that customers will also be able to make use of all GSM value added services such as Caller Line Identity (CLIP), Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Call Barring, call transfer and Conference Calling.
International Marketing & Trading Company Chairman Joudry Munair said: “Thuraya will expand the reach of national telecommunications networks in the country, providing communications solutions for areas that are currently not served by existing terrestrial telecommunications networks.”
Thuraya complements the existing services, allowing subscribers to remain connected to national mobile network, while accessing Thuraya's system whenever the national network is unavailable. Thuraya offers GSM in its hand held phones enabling customers to use the phones as a conventional GSM phone. Customers can use the SIM card of their regular phone in the phone.
The satellite technology will expand the reach of conventional networks, providing the advantages of easy mobility and seamless service beyond land-based telecommunications system. GPS, Meanwhile, is a powerful tool for navigational and personal security, especially in Pakistan, which is a country with dense population in remote areas.
Thuraya is a private joint stock company that was founded in 1997. Manufacture of the one billion dollar turnkey project was contracted to Boeing Satellite Systems. Thuraya's first satellite was launched successfully in October 2000, and commercial services commenced in July 2001. A spare satellite will be launched later to expand system capacity, and provisions exist for a third additional satellite.
Thuraya's satellite is a geosynchronous satellite positioned at 44 degrees East above the Indian Ocean. It has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Thuraya's footprint of 99 countries spans Europe, North and Central Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The primary gateway in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), houses the Ground Segment, an advanced operational center with switching and tracking facilities. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
