Thuraya
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| This article contains information regarding a satellite which is either currently in the process of launching, or is scheduled to launch within the next 2 weeks. Details may change as the countdown and ascent progress. |
Thuraya (Arabic: الثريا /aθːurajːa/ which is the Arabic name for Pleiades) is a regional satellite phone provider, mainly focused on the Europe, Middle East, and Africa but has plans to expand its coverage to East Asia, Australia and possibly South America.
The company is based in the United Arab Emirates and distributes its products and service through authorized service providers. Its shareholders are a mixture of Middle Eastern and North African telcos (in which Etisalat is a major one) and investment companies.
The current number of subscribers is around 250,000 (March 2006). Some 360,000 Thuraya handsets have been put in service since launch in 2001. The subscriber growth has apparently slowed down during the last year, but Thuraya still made a net profit of US$80 million on revenues of $323 million in 2005 (compared to just US$26 million profit in 2004).
Contents |
[edit] Services
Thuraya provides the following satellite-based services:
- Voice communications with handheld (Thuraya SO-2510, SG-2520 Hughes 7100 (discontinued) / 7101 and Ascom 21 (discontinued)) or fixed terminals
- Short message service
- 9.6 kbit/s of data & fax service
- 60 kbit/s downlink and 15kbit/s uplink "GMPRS" mobile data service on SO and SG handsets
- 144 kbit/s high-speed data transfer via a notebook-sized terminal (ThurayaDSL)
- GPS is supported by terminals
- A number of value-added services, such as news, call back, call waiting, missed calls, voicemail, WAP, etc.
- A one-way 'high power alert' capability that notifies users of an incoming call, when the signal path to the satellite is obstructed (e.g. inside a building)
[edit] Subscriber equipment
All Thuraya handsets (except for the SO-2510) have a dual-mode feature that allows them to operate in the Thuraya satellite network and GSM terrestrial mobile networks. Thuraya has concluded roaming agreements with over 200 wireless (cellular) operators around the world, providing its customers the ability of using their Thuraya phones outside the satellite coverage. The dual-mode feature of the handset is similar to the Telit (GSM/Satellite) and Qualcomm (CDMA/Satellite) handsets on the Globalstar system.
The second generation of Thuraya devices are becoming available. The satellite-only SO-2510 was released in November 2006. It has a colour screen and is claimed to be the smallest and lightest satellite phone in the world and uses the VxWorks operating system. The SG-2520 was released in early 2007, this is a dual-mode hanset that also connects to GSM/GPRS services and is based on Windows CE and made by Apsat in South Korea[1]. The device is slightly bigger than the SO-2510 but it also has a camera, GPS and support for SD Cards. The operating system is a rather customised version of Windows CE and is not at all like Windows Mobile. It has support for running Java J2ME applications only.
Thuraya has also launched "Thuraya Module", a small (70x50x20 mm) unit designed for integration into other devices. This provides USB and digital audio interfaces and runs on VxWorks OS. Previously, third-party hardware developers used to remove electronics from handsets and integrate it into their hardware.
Handsets communicate directly with the satellites using an antenna of roughly the same length as the handset and have a maximum output power of 2 Watts. QPSK modulation is used for the air interface. Thuraya SIM cards will work in regular GSM phones and ordinary GSM SIM cards can be used on the satellite network as long as the GSM provider has a roaming agreement with Thuraya.
[edit] Technical details of the network
Thuraya's country calling code is +882 16, which is part of the ITU-T International Networks numbering group. Thuraya is not part of the +881 country calling code numbering group as this is allocated by ITU-T for networks in the Global Mobile Satellite System, of which Thuraya is not a part, being a regional rather than a global system.
[edit] Satellites
Thuraya operates two communications satellites built by Boeing.
- Thuraya 1
The first satellite, named Thuraya 1, has deficient solar panels and cannot operate properly, this satellite is currently positioned above Korea for testing purposes. It was launched on 2000-10-21 by SeaLaunch on a Zenit 3SL rocket.[2] At launch it weighted 5250 kg.[3]
- Thuraya 2
Thuraya 2 was launched by SeaLaunch on 2003-06-10.[4] It is located in geosynchronous orbit at 44 deg-E longitude, inclined at 6.3 degrees.[5] The satellite can handle 13,750 simultaneous voice calls.
- Thuraya 3
The third satellite was planned for launch by SeaLaunch in Q1 2007, and the start of Far East and Australia service was planned for 2007-10-15. The failure in January 2007 of another SeaLaunch rocket led to a delay in the launch of Thuraya-3, which was planned for 2007-11-14, but has been postponed due to sea conditions.[6] This satellite is expected to be fully operational two months after launch[7]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.apsat.co.kr/product_2.htm
- ^ Thuraya 1. NSSDC.
- ^ Thuraya-1 Complete System for Mobile Communications. Boeing.
- ^ Thuraya 2. NSSDC.
- ^ Sea Launch Past Launches Thuraya-2. Boeing.
- ^ Current Mission: Thuraya-3. Sea Launch.
- ^ http://www.itp.net/news/499833-thuraya-reaches-out-all-across-the-globe?start=0
[edit] Gallery of Images
Thuraya logo.gif
Thuraya's old logo |
Thuraya 01.jpg
A Thuraya handset, a Hughes 7101 |
Turhaya2.jpg
A Thuraya phone used in Algeria, 2004. |
So2510 small.jpg
A Thuraya SO-2510 |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Thuraya Website
- Thuraya Phones Documentation and Manuals: SG-2520 (PDF) SO-2510 (PDF) Ascom 21 (PDF) Hughes 7100 (PDF) 7101 (PDF)
- Send SMS to a Thuraya phonear:الثريا
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