lunes, 26 de julio de 2010

Telecoms in a different splashdown

After years of doing business in outer space with its satellite phones, Thuraya has splashed down with a new product for maritime communications.
 
The UAE-based telecommunications operator is offering handsets and basic internet connections using two satellites covering Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
 

 
Thuraya distributes three handsets sold by authorised dealers, two of which are able to connect to the internet through a satellite link. It has sold about 500,000 devices since it began commercial operations in 2002.
 
Sultan Ahmed al Ghafli, the chief strategy officer for Thuraya, said the operator had about 250,000 subscribers using its handsets around the world but was also losing customers.

 
Worldwide satellite mobile revenues have been flat between 2008 and last year at US$2.2 billion (Dh8.08bn), figures from the Satellite Industry Association show.
 
To stimulate growth, Thuraya has developed products aimed at the lucrative maritime market, including a phone and internet bundle that will be launched this October at the Gitex technology conference.

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