TCI Becomes Thuraya Service Provider in Iran
Tehran: The Iranian national telecom entity Telecommunications Company of Iran ( TCI) has become the service provider of Thuraya’s mobile satellite services in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
A Service Provider agreement was signed today between the two companies at a special ceremony at TCI’s headquarters in Tehran. The agreement was signed by Thuraya’s Chairman Mr Mohammad H. Omran and TCI’s Chairman and Managing Director Dr S. Abdolah Mirtaheri. Present at the signing ceremony were Thuraya’s Chief Executive Mr Yousuf Al Sayed, Mr Mohammad H. Entezari Member of TCI’s board of directors, General Managers of TCI and senior officials from both companies.
With Iran’s TCI added to the list of its Service Providers, Thuraya continues to notch up steady successes in major markets for its regional mobile satellite system. Gearing towards a year-2000 service launch, the company is going full swing in building the commercial infrastructure for the system throughout its 99-country coverage area, with 18 SP agreements already signed in key countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent.
By becoming Thuraya’s Service Provider, TCI will play a pivotal role in the provision of Thuraya’s mobile satellite services in the Iranian market including the service connection, and billing and customer care for Thuraya’s prospective customers in Iran.
Commenting on this event, Thuraya’s Chairman Mr Omran said the sealing of this agreement with TCI is a landmark achievement in Thuraya’s business progress. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the major countries in the region, and has a very sophisticated telecommunications market that constitutes great opportunity for the Thuraya system,” said Mr Omran.
He also added that the introduction of Thuraya’s services in Iran would complement the national terrestrial network and the broad portfolio of telecoms services already available from TCI. “Our partnership with TCI, the national telecom provider of Iran, would enhance our presence in the local market through their expertise and support, while also reinforcing our commercial base at the regional level,” reiterated Mr Omran.
TCI ’s Chairman and Managing Director Dr Mirtaheri praised the signing of the SP agreement with Thuraya as a step forward in the further enhancement and expansion of telecommunications infrastructure in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“Through this tie-up with Thuraya, TCI will be able to offer many satellite-enhanced telecommunications solutions in addition to the current services of its terrestrial network,” said Dr Mirtaheri, adding that Iran has a huge geographic area as well as a big population.
“We have a large number of villages, industrial sites and rural and agricultural areas that are remotely located from the country’s central infrastructure and which, we believe, will significantly benefit from the advanced mobile satellite services offered by the Thuraya system,” said Dr Mirtaheri.
Dr. Mirtaheri also hailed the vision of the Thuraya project as a regional initiative, saying it is going to have a positive impact on the operations of many public and economic sectors, as well as the lives of many communities within the region.
TCI is the national telecommunications provider of the Islamic Republic of Iran which has more than 8 million fixed lines, more than 600,000 GSM lines and is the sole network provider of data, VSAT, ATM, IN, videoconferencing and many other advanced services in Iran.