Satellite phones

Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 11:42

ThreadID: 59156 Views:3716 Replies:5 FollowUps:1

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Member - Louis E (VIC)

Thuraya (United Arab Emirates Communications) has apparently launched a third GEO satellite which covers Australia and is said to start marketing new satellite phone/mobile phones (SO-2510 and SG2520) in Australia this year. The SIM's are meant to switch from the mobile mode to sat mode automatically.

Does anyone know whether these phones are going to be integrated with the Telstra 3G network like the Iridium's ?
(I know I should ask Telstra but that is too much hard work)

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Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 12:24

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 12:24

Thuraya is sold by Optus in Australia if I'm not mistaken??

Iridium Sat phones are pure Sat and non terrestrial compatible to any network on its own right without the additional GSM cassette fitted which I believe is both very expensive and very hard to get in Aus.

So I doubt that Thuraya will have any means to utilise the Telstra terrestrial network.

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Reply By: Member - Footloose - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 14:21

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 14:21

Optus will be the provider, see thread 59137.

AnswerID: 312009

Follow Up By: Member - Olcoolone (S.A) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 18:13

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 18:13

Looks like he doesn't read replys to his threads that he starts (59137).

FollowupID: 577992

Reply By: Member - Olcoolone (S.A) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 18:16

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 18:16

I doubt Telstra will have access to the Thuraya or want to use it when they already use the Iridium system.

Optus - Thuraya
Vodafone - Globalstar
Telstra - Iridium

AnswerID: 312038

Reply By: Sankar - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 13:16

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 13:16

Hi, I know that Optus has become a service provider for Thuraya and Telstar is tied up with another Thuraya SP in UAE. I have this info as I am based in Dubai, UAE and am very deeply involved with Thuraya activities as a manufacturer of products under them. Please see the link Thuraya products for an idea of products we make.

Truly I an a satellite engineer and believe, Thuraya is far more superior in technology and user interface than any others like Inmarsat, Iridium, Globalstar etc.

Feel free to contact me at sankar@selcomltd.com for any Thuraya related enquiry. The phones now work in Australia with the coverage just activated.

AnswerID: 312177