GSM/Satellite phone

Submitted: Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 at 19:38

ThreadID: 54088 Views:2732 Replies:2 FollowUps:2

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Lever94

For those looking at buying a satellite phone. Thuraya have just launched Thuraya 3, which sits @ 98.5 degrees East. So what you say. This gives a footprint over Australia. The word is that the GSM side is on Optus 900 Mhz and when no GSM coverage the phone switches to Thuraya 3. Thuraya 3 is a geosynchronous bird with a capacity for 13,750 simultaneous voice circuits. As Thuraya 3 was launched on the 15 th of Jan the product is rumored to be hitting the market around April 08. I would say that it is bye bye Globalstar

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/geomobile/thuraya2_3/thuraya2_3.html

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Reply By: Member - Olcoolone (S.A) - Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 at 21:05

Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 at 21:05

It will be good to see Optus enter the handheld market, the already have one of the best sat services in the world.

You might ant to look at this link.

http://www.thuraya.com/content/thuraya3.html

Regards Richard

AnswerID: 284815

Reply By: Member - John R (QLD) - Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 at 21:29

Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 at 21:29

Hmm, not so sure. It theoretically covers Oz, but will they point any of the "200 spot beams that can be redirected on-orbit" over empty outback Oz, when they can cover hundreds of millions of customers in SE Asia? Thuraya phones' GSM will certainly match though.

Cheers, John

AnswerID: 284832

Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 12:57

Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 12:57

From their web site; "The Thuraya coverage area encompasses the Middle East, North and Central Africa, Europe, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent."

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Follow Up By: Member - John R (QLD) - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 19:10

Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 19:10

Hi Kiwi Kia
That's the current situation. Thuraya have just put up a 3rd sat, which can cover India to Japan, and potentially Australia. Will be interesting to see what we get. I'll be waiting til someone on the forum takes a phone out to the centre, and tries it out for real.

Cheers, John

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