SATELLITE communications are innately more secure than traditional terrestrial and GSM networks, and Thuraya Telecommunications Company has taken steps in re-configuring its satellite network to ensure  all users can communicate safely, including the unique ability to turn off GPS markers. Mobile satellite communications offer journalists the most secure form of voice, data and video-streaming communications and provide complete coverage where terrestrial networks fall short.
Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer, Thuraya Telecommunications Company, talks about forays made in the communications sector.

How crucial is security when you talk of satellite communications?
There has been a great deal of concern recently about secure connectivity related to mobile communications. I can confidently say that mobile satellite communications employ high communication security. Thuraya is constantly upgrading and enhancing its network to ensure offering customers a safe and secure network. Some of Thuraya's users include relief organisations, broadcast and media, and government agencies that trust and rely on us for their voice and data communication. We take this responsibility very seriously.

Tell us about your role in the ICT sector of Qatar. Where do you think the country stands with regard to information and communications technology?
Qatar is an exciting country at the forefront of ICT innovation. We are proud to have strong ties to Qatar, as one of our major shareholders is the leading telecom operator, Qtel. We have a close working relationship with Qtel, whereby they have appointed their subsidiary StarLink as a local distributor for Thuraya's products and services in Qatar.   We serve a wide range of customers in Qatar including leading industry organisations across the media, government, NGO and energy sectors. Some of our Qatari customers include Al Jazeera Network, Qatar Petroleum and other energy companies, as well as governmental organisations such as the Ministry of Interior, Qatar Armed Forces and the Qatar
Red Crescent Society.

Is there a growing reliance on mobile satellite communications in the region, and if so, why?
We have definitely seen an upsurge of traffic as a result of the Arab Spring in different pockets of the Middle East region. Recent events in Syria, including the ongoing communications blackouts, have resulted in an increase in traffic on our network. As I mentioned earlier, mobile satellite communications offer secure and reliable services, which is why many media customers are using our mobile broadband modems (called Thuraya IP) to stream live video images and for broadband internet connectivity. However, we have also seen strong demand for our mobile voice and data communication services in remote or disconnected parts of the region from a range of users. In many cases there simply isn't a business case to extend a mobile or terrestrial network for a telecom operator. Thuraya offers an ideal solution to network operators looking to quickly extend their services to their subscribers in remote areas and hence meet universal service obligations. In other cases it is simply not physically possible to rollout terrestrial networks to some parts of the region, which is where satellite comes into play. We recently signed an agreement with SoftBank Mobile of Japan. Japan is probably one of the most connected places on this planet. However, they tragically discovered the vulnerability of terrestrial networks during the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011. As such, we're seeing more and more mobile operators like Qtel, SoftBank and Etisalat offer Thuraya's services to extend their networks and for emergency communications. In addition, governments and regulators in other countries and regions are also requiring and encouraging the availability of satellite communications, particularly mobile satellite communications, as a backup communications capability in case of any emergency. Thuraya also promotes pre-deployment of mobile satellite equipment and terminals by the national emergency response team and centres so that these are readily available during any unfortunate occurrence of a disaster or emergency situation. Countless relief and government agencies rely on Thuraya to support communications for
disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts.

The increasing number of satellites is putting high demand on certain frequencies and orbits, causing orbital/spectral congestion. Such congestion may lead to unintentional interference to satellite services. Can you explain this in a Qatari context?
Satellite frequencies and orbital rights are managed by an international body called the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Yes, it's true that frequencies or spectrum are a scarce resource, with many different communications providers lobbying hard for additional orbital slots to support the launch of new satellites providing TV and communication services. Thuraya has successfully coordinated its resources as per the ITU Regulations. Moreover, Thuraya's services in Qatar are fully coordinated. Satellite operators including Thuraya work closely together to coordinate frequencies and operate in accordance with the international regulations. We also work together to combat satellite interference, which in most cases is unintentional. There are different industry organisations including the Global VSAT Forum (GVF), which consists of satellite and VSAT operators, and the Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group (SUIRG) discussing and implementing ways to deal with interference. Thuraya operates two fantastic satellites which are well positioned to provide coverage of not only Qatar but the rest of the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Australia.

Which companies are you looking to for collaboration?
We see great opportunities for Thuraya's services mostly from the energy and media sectors, but we are also in talks with a number of government entities and NGOs based in Qatar.

There have been many instances, especially in the Middle East, when communication lines have been jammed. What is the reason for such breaches?
Satellite operators can experience intentional jamming and Thuraya is no different. Fortunately we have a highly experienced team of engineers who have the necessary know-how on troubleshooting and resolving the source of the interference. It may seem dramatic to say this, but in many cases we are providing mission-critical communication services which could make the difference in saving lives. This is why we take this responsibility very seriously and have the best people in the industry to deal with such issues, if and when they arise.

Tell us about innovations in your sector and what 2013 holds for ICT.  
Thuraya is gearing up for a year of many new launches. We pride ourselves on delivering product innovation, including a legacy of industry firsts. We have worked hard on filling gaps in our product roadmap and this year we will see the fruits of our efforts. Stay tuned this spring to hear news about two exciting new product launches that will revolutionise the mobile satellite industry. The challenge with mobile satellite communications is that the hardware has often been clunky and expensive. This is changing, and we're excited to be introducing ultra-lightweight phones and broadband modems that are highly cost-effective.

© Qatar Today 2013