Best Service Provider

Thuraya's XT Exceeds Highest Audio Quality

Backed by a superior network with blanket coverage in 140 countries, this refined call clarity is most important in remote areas or in emergency situations where clear communication is vital.

“The Codec rate of Thuraya XT is the highest within its category which contributes to the superior audio quality customers experience when making or receiving calls. No matter the location, be it the highest mountain summit or in the remotest area users will always find that the clarity of calls is unprecedented,” said Thuraya’s Vice President Corporate Communications, Mr. Ebrahim Khalil Ebrahim.

“With Thuraya XT, customers can communicate with crystal clear clarity. When we designed the phone we introduced technologies to ensure there was no distortion of sound whatsoever adding to the reliability of this competitive handheld,” elaborated Mr. Ebrahim.

Thuraya XT satellite phone has a unique combination of IP54/IK03 standards to make it dust, splash water and impact resistant. It is the smallest and lightest satellite phone on the market despite its robustness and the most functional as it provides the fastest data service and GPS Waypoint navigation features.

Activation of 1st Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro

 -Stratos begins filling thousands of orders from customers eager to deplly new handheld phone with The Stratos Advantage self-provisioning, monitoring and control capabilities-

The first IsatPhone Pro activation was managed for the Colorado Division of Emergency Management (CDEM).

“We selected the IsatPhone Pro from Stratos because we needed a portable, hand-held unit to supplement our transportable and vehicle-mounted communications systems. For certain security and emergency situations, we must be able to hand an IsatPhone Pro unit to a responder who may be assigned to any region in the country – without worrying about coverage,” said Jack D. Cobb, Communications Manager, Colorado Dept. of Local Affairs Division of Emergency Management.

Cobb added, “We will use the IsatPhone Pro under our Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) deployments and also to support executive security needs and other response situations – both statewide and potentially nationwide. Our applications require the strong background, technical capability and support that the Inmarsat satellite system brings to emergency communications.”

Customers using the IsatPhone Pro from Stratos benefit from The Stratos Advantage, a wide range of value-added services that ensure optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. The foundation of The Stratos Advantage is Stratos Dashboard, which enables customers to manage their use of satellite airtime by providing real-time information on voice and data traffic used, with associated costs.

Stratos Dashboard further enhances the user experience of the IsatPhone Pro by providing instant provisioning, as well as rebilling and reporting options to minimize unexpected invoices and potential financial risk. Stratos Dashboard supports both postpaid and prepaid rate-plan options.  

Inmarsat GSPS’ full global coverage is made possible by the latest-generation Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellites, which are among the world’s largest and most advanced communications satellites. The I-4s were designed with IP communications in mind and are optimized to deliver high-quality and dependable data communications, well into the 2020s.

“Our global facilities are now beginning to fulfill the large, advance sales commitments for the IsatPhone Pro that we have received over the past few months,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “With our extensive testing phase successfully completed, we look forward to meeting the strong demand for this reliable service. We are grateful for the confidence our customers are showing in our affordable satellite-phone solution that is backed by innovative value-added services to ensure the best possible performance.”

About Inmarsat GSPS
Inmarsat GSPS from offers a competitive alternative to the handheld, fixed and maritime phone solutions now available in the marketplace. The services offer high-quality voice connectivity via small, affordable equipment – ideal for remote workers in the energy, mining, government, media and first-responder communities.

Thuraya XT designed for Walk and Talk

The Thuraya XT handset facilitates reliable and efficient walk and talk communications due to the combination of high-performance satellites from the Thuraya network and an omni-directional antenna designed to ensure enhanced mobility. The antenna allows customers the utmost in mobility and directional flexibility when using the phone.

Satellite phone users who are normally based in outdoor areas require the highest quality signal and reception from their handhelds. Instant phone calls and connectivity to the satellite network is a necessity. And as movement is intrinsic to outdoor areas, Thuraya ensures through advanced engineering that the antenna of the XT handheld fully supports “walk and talk” communications.

“Thuraya XT offers practical satellite communications for our highly mobile customers due to the robust design of the antenna of the phone. Without having to dedicate time and effort to finding the direction of the satellite, customers can very quickly make and receive calls even if they are not stationary,” said Thuraya’s Senior Manager Product Management, Mr. Rashid Baba.

“XT users will always feel they have complete freedom when using the XT because of the unique combination of the Thuraya satellite network and the advanced handset antenna which allows 360 degrees mobility,” he added.

The handheld contains a High Penetration Alerting system which allows users to receive incoming calls even when the antenna is stowed. This feature further adds to the usability of the handheld as a communications tool especially for safety and emergency purposes.

Further addressing customer needs, the XT handheld offers network and signal accessibility even if the antenna is not fully extended. Therefore, all incoming calls are received by the Thuraya XT in Thuraya’s 140-country coverage area. Therefore they can easily and comfortably store the phone knowing that they can still be reached with the High Penetration Alerting system

Thuraya participates in world's largest gathering of shipowners

Equipped with expanding innovations of proven satellite telecom solutions and a coverage of more than two thirds of the globe, Thuraya Telecommunications Co. is firmly establishing itself as a main provider of international maritime communications. Shipping crew and passengers have the vital need of feeling reliably connected wherever they sail, whereas ship owners and operators always look for operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. "Thuraya has been factoring in these two key elements in the design, performance, size and pricing of its products," says Thuraya's Senior Manager of Corporate Communications, Ebrahim K. Ebrahim.

At Posidonia 2010, the world's largest shipping trade exhibition & conference that took place in Greece from 7th to 11th June, Thuraya demonstrated to nearly 20,000 visitors of merchant, government and fishing vessels a range of products starting from XT, the world's toughest satellite handheld, to a specialized marine-grade high-speed data terminal. The display also included Thuraya Marine terminal, Thuraya IP, the smallest satellite broadband terminal with a speed of 444 kbps and streaming capability of 384 kbps, Thuraya SG, a dual satellite/GSM handheld phone, specialized maritime antennas and "NettedComms" for emergency communications.

"We provide a whole range of maritime, data, voice and emergency communications that the marine and shipping sector heavily rely on for efficiency, safety and social communications," added Mr. Ebrahim.

A new broadband maritime terminal built by Comtech was also be featured at the exhibition. The device complies with all maritime standards and provides a broadband speed of up to 444 Kbps and a streaming speed of 384 Kbps. "It is going to be the first terminal in the mobile satellite marine industry to have an electronic beam steering fixed antenna, which provides higher reliability compared to conventional antennas," he explained.

Thuraya's satellite network covers the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Mediterranean, Arabian Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, large parts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and international waters in the Asia Pacific, a geographical area that accounts for the highest parts of world's maritime and sea-fearing activity.

"What adds to Thuraya's competitiveness, in addition to the ruggedness, rich features and cost-effectiveness of its products, is a dynamic and congestion-free network that ensures a high performance at all times," he said.

Mr. Ebrahim elaborated that with diverse marine solutions including Thuraya Marine terminal, Seagull and Comtech, Thuraya's solutions serve almost the entire maritime segments including merchant ships, government fleets, coastguard and security operations, ferries, fishing boats, leisure yachts and other types of sea vessels.

Thuraya awards Asia Pacific for excellence

Thuraya awards Asia Pacific System Incorporated for excellence in design and manufacture of XT satellite handheld. 

In appreciation of the high-quality design, performance and operation of the XT satellite handheld phone, Thuraya honoured Asia Pacific System Incorporated (APSI), Korean-based manufacturer of the world-renowned device, with a certificate of achievement.

The world's toughest satellite phone, Thuraya XT, has generated significant market interest since its launch due to its unprecedented ruggedness and durability. Designed and tested to endure the harshest of circumstances, the innovative phone was manufactured by Asia Pacific System Inc (APSI), the specialists in satellite communications equipment, for Thuraya Telecommunications Company, who launched it last year.

"Thuraya shares its success with APSI and recognises their achievement in manufacturing the XT satellite phone. This unique device has set industry standards for its robustness, reliability and efficiency and its performance is unparalleled," said Thuraya's Chief Technology Officer, Ali Al Mazrooei, during a special ceremony.

"Our long-term technological partnership with APSI has enabled the creation of a market-leading product in the satellite handheld sector. The Thuraya XT's ruggedness test results demonstrate just how tough the device is. The results were better than we expected and we have now set a benchmark in the industry," added Al Mazrooei.

Dr. Dae-il Oh, Senior Vice President, APSI, received the certificate which was presented to him by Mr. Al Mazrooei, in the presence of Thuraya's senior engineering team.

Thuraya is one of the major shareholders of APSI who manufactured Thuraya XT phone and other terminals over the last six years. Thuraya XT is the only handheld to be IP54/IK03 certified making it dust, splash water and shock proof. The handheld provides the fastest data service on a satellite handheld and has an extremely professional and user-friendly menu. Its sleek design also has a brightness sensor for readability in the bright outdoors which helps contribute to the battery life, which provides up to six hours of talk time and up to 80 hours standby time.

The phone has appealed to a large number of vertical customers in sectors such as oil and gas, military, government, large corporate and NGOs as well as individual users.