The Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Co. plans to launch its second satellite by 2002, ahead of schedule, in anticipation of the growth in mobile subscribers as Thuraya goes commercial next year, the Gulf News reported Wednesday.
Yousuf Abdullah Al Sayed, chief executive of Thuraya was quoted by the daily as saying that "original business plan was to launch the second satellite by the end of 2003 or beginning of 2004. But if the market takes up, and we need the second satellite orbit for back-up, we'll launch it at the earliest in 2002."
According to its web site, Thurayya on 11 November established a strategic presence for its mobile satellite system in the CIS region, through a commercial alliance with Orbita-Plus which has become its Service Provider in Kazakhstan.
With the signing of this agreement, Thuraya’s list of Service Provider agreements totals 32 countries, with many more to be finalised by the end of the year, it said -- Albawaba.com
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