Thuraya Telecommunications Company (UAE)

Thuraya is a UAE-based regional mobile-satellite service provider, subsidiary of Yahsat. The company was established in 1997 and is fully owned by Mubadala Investment company, the government of Abu Dhabi's investment vehicle. Thuraya is headquartered in Abu Dhabi and operates five satellites across 160 countries.

Thuraya offers communication solutions in a range of areas including the energy, government, broadcast media, military, aerospace, humanitarian NGO, and maritime sectors. Thuraya's network allows uninterrupted communication coverage for two-thirds of the globe through MSS and quasi-global VSAT coverage through GSM roaming.

Thuraya's country calling code is +882 16, part of the ITU-T International Networks group of numbering. Thuraya is not part of Global Mobile Satellite System (+881) due to being a regional system.

The company's transceivers communicate directly with Thuraya's satellites using an antenna approximately the same length as the handset. These antennas have a maximum power output of two watts and uses QPSK modulation for air interface. Thuraya SIM cards work in regular GSM phones and ordinary GSM SIM cards can be used on the network if SIM providers establish roaming agreement with Thuraya. Noticeable lag occurs while making a call, due to calling being based on geosynchronous voice services.

High gain in the antennas handsets makes it necessary to aim the antenna at the satellite, which is assisted by a GPS receiver that allows the user to program the ground position of the satellites as waypoints. The service operates on L-band carriers assigned in blocks to areas of coverage referred to as "spotbeams", which are Thuraya’s equivalent to cells or service areas. In L-band, 34 MHz of bandwidth from 1.525 GHz to 1.559 GHz is assigned for downlink (space-to-earth) communication, with uplink operation between 1.6265 GHz and 1.6605 GHz. Uplink and downlink channels are 1087 paired carrier frequencies, on a raster of 31.25 kHz. A Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) time-slot architecture is employed which allocates a carrier in time-slots of a fixed length.

Thuraya operates five satellites across 160 countries, with a combination of geostationary satellites offering fixed and mobile service coverage through C, Ka, Ku and L-bands across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.

Yahsat, parent of Thuraya, was the first Middle Eastern company to offer Ka-band service through its Al Yah satellites, and the addition of the Al Yah 3 satellite added coverage to 60% of Africa and 95% of Brazil.

Thuraya integrates and support multiple network and terminals with its IoT and M2M solutions, including: smart utilities, connected oilfields, security and safety, border control, ATMs and points of sale, connected cars, critical infrastructure, fixed and mobile remote assets monitoring, lone worker safety.

Thuraya Land M2M services offer end-to-end solutions enabling the simultaneous collection of data from multiple points and sources including location information, data from external sensors and peripheral devices, and input gathered from vehicle or heavy equipment CAN buses.

Thuraya’s Maritime M2M service enables push updates to fleets via a low latency network, transmitting data in real time. The service supports streamlined, automated data capture over both satellite and GSM networks and sends actionable data delivery directly to the operators.

SatTrack is a web-based tracking and monitoring service, developed for fishing vessels fitted with the Thuraya MarineStar voice, tracking and monitoring solution. It is a turnkey subscription-based application available to users as part of Thuraya’s SeaLite portfolio of narrowband services. SatTrack facilitates sustainable fishing practices, better crew safety and welfare as well as fleet visibility and management in real time.

Thuraya offers voice solutions that feature on-the-go talk and data regardless of networks or areas.

• Thuraya X5-Touch
• XT-Pro Dual (Satellite and GSM connectivity, dual SIM cards, navigation systems and up to 11 hours talk-time, 100 hours standby time)
• Satsleeve+
• Satsleeve Hotspot
• XT-Pro
• XT-Lite
• XT-Pro Dual
• XT Hotspot
• FDU-XT
• FDU-XT Plus
• Indoor Repeaters

Thuraya IP terminals are used by global media organizations, government entities, and NGOs and offer energy and maritime companies portable, secure, and easy-to-use satellite broadband device.

• Thuraya "We"
• IP Commander
• IP Voyager
• MCD Voyager
• IP+
• GSM

Thuraya offers a range of maritime voice and data products, including broadband devices, terminals, and mobile satellite handsets. The maritime equipment can be installed on ships in just hours, and can help ship owners to reduce operational costs with constant connectivity to improve crew welfare.

• Atlas IP+
• Marinestar
• Orion IP

Thuraya Aero provides technology to ISR, SAR, relief, BLOS, and business aviation operations. The company's Aeronautical Satellite System is a communication platform that synchronizes with Thuraya’s existing L-band technology. Aero’s hardware and software elements were developed in partnership with SCOTTY, Cobham and SRT.

• HDR Fixed Flange
• Fixed-ARINC
• HDR Heli
• SDR Fixed-ARINC
• SDR Fixed-Flange
• SDR Heli

Thuraya's M2M terminals offer end-to-end services that enable the simultaneous data collection from multiple points and sources. These include location information, data peripheral devices, external sources, and vehicle or heavy equipment CAN buses information.

• T2M-Dual
• FT2225
• IP M2M