05 June 2007
Dubai: Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company has started its new prepaid roaming service with etisalat of the UAE, Mobily and STC (Al Jawwal) of Saudi Arabia and GSM networks in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.
The new service allows Thuraya's prepaid subscribers to roam on those GSM networks, and at the same time, allows the prepaid subscribers of those GSM networks to roam on Thuraya's satellite network, covering more than 110 countries.
Like GSM, only Thuraya's postpaid subscribers were able to use this facility before the launch of the new service.
Benefits
"The service will allow Thuraya prepaid subscribers to make calls and send SMS while roaming on local GSM networks. Similarly, it will be highly beneficial for prepaid GSM users who will, for the first time, be able with their existing GSM SIM cards to roam on an extensive satellite network which provides a blanket telecom coverage even in remote and rural areas," the company said in a statement.
Prepaid roaming was initially launched with Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) of Saudi Arabia, but has since expanded to several GSM networks including STC (Al Jawwal), etisalat, Telecel of Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast's Moov.
More GSM networks, including etisalat Misr of Egypt will be added soon, Thuraya said.
"With the continued expansion of our prepaid roaming partners, the service is expected to be a major attraction for Thuraya's subscribers in the 110 countries currently under its coverage," said Sultan Al Ghafli, Thuraya's chief commercial officer.
Thuraya has 250,000 subscribers for mobile satellite handhelds.
By Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
