Satnews Daily
September 9th, 2016

Big Doings Ahead For Thuraya


Having just finalized their nexgen constellation plans, Thuraya Telecommunications Company is set to deliver to the industry a multi-dimensional program of expansion and diversification.

The company will extend their geographical reach, move into new market sectors and launch new services and devices. Thuraya’s L-band network will undergo extensive evolution. While continuity is assured, with both existing satellites Thuraya-2 and Thuraya-3 continuing to operate as planned, the current satellite footprint will be enhanced significantly with the planned launch of nexgen satellites starting in 2020, with a focus on delivering high mobility services in core and new markets. These will be complemented with High Throughput Satellite (HTS) services for land, maritime and aeronautical applications.

The constellation will be supported by highly advanced platforms for the provision of “new wave” IoT and content services, with multicasting and broadcasting capabilities. This will enable Thuraya to address new growth markets requiring the mobility, capability and coverage that is uniquely available through L-band or HTS services, or in many instances through a combination of both.

Thuraya has already achieved a substantial turnaround of business performance while operating within their current sphere of operations—the team has overcome obstacles of limited coverage, legacy issues, and a challenging market, to consistently outperform the MSS industry from 2011 to 2015.

Thuraya’s future proposition allows the firm to present nexgen plans against the backdrop of a distinctive and unique set of core strengths that demonstrate an understanding of growing and future trends. Convergence is a notable example, and the integration of terrestrial and satellite communications is already well established at Thuraya. With more than 360 roaming agreements with mobile network operators around the world, end-users already use devices interchangeably both on Thuraya’s satellite network and on GSM networks worldwide.

Building upon their acknowledged reputation for innovation, Thuraya has developed a roadmap for the launch of new and innovative devices, terminals and modules, designed for enterprise, government and consumer markets. The creation of the Thuraya SatSleeve introduced the Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) concept to the satellite industry and reflects both an appreciation of the demand for consumer-focused devices and an ability to offer products outside the traditional range. This approach is also reflected in recent developments and partnerships in consumer wearables technology and is reinforced by a unique and innovative distribution model that is augmented by online retail channel agreements.

Having prepared and finalized its future plans with global management consultancy A.T. Kearney, Thuraya is now in the process of appointing a financial adviser to start fundraising activities. Discussions are already in progress with a number of potential strategic investors who are interested in the unique capabilities that Thuraya offers.


Thuraya's Chief Executive Officer, Samer Halawi.

According to Samer Halawi, the Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya, Thuraya will become the provider of choice for unified connectivity through an extensive program of expansion and diversification. The company's portfolio will transform Thuraya into a one-stop shop for L-band, HTS, IoT and GSM. New markets are now accessible to the firm and new technological capabilities will deliver a portfolio of mobile products, applications and services.

www.thuraya.com