BUCHAREST, Romania—According Gulf News, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) newspaper, Thuraya’s services will be available in 30 countries, including Pakistan, Sudan, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Greece, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Denmark, Italy and Britain, by the end of October.
Mohammed Hassan Omran, chairman of Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications, said the trial services started in April and May, with commercial operations beginning in July in 15 countries. That number increased to 24 countries at the end of September.
Thuraya’s coverage area includes 100 countries inhabited by 2.3 billion people. The satellite company’s footprint includes the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, Central Asia, North and Central Africa, and Europe, he said.
Thuraya integrates satellite, GSM and global positioning system (GPS) all in one handset. Each handset offers, voice, data, facsimile, messaging and location determination using GPS technology. Thuraya’s dual service enables users to use GSM service any time on local networks, yet automatically switch to satellite mode whenever out of local terrestrial reach.
