Thuraya and Investcom Sign Major Service Provision Deal Investcom becomes Thuraya’s Service Provider in Four Countries
Abu Dhabi October 11, 2000: Investcom Global Limited has become Thuraya’s Service Provider in four countries – Lebanon, Ghana, Guinea and Benin.
The service provider agreement is seen to be a remarkable commercial achievement for Thuraya whose first geo-synchronous mobile telecommunications satellite is being readied for launch from the Pacific Ocean within the coming two weeks. The SP agreement is also equally significant to Investcom, a diversified telecom group, which has increasingly established major presence in various markets within the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The deal has further reinforced Investcom’s foothold in four key markets in the Middle East and Africa.
The Service Provider agreement was signed on behalf of Thuraya by Mr Mohammad Omran, Thuraya Chairman, and on behalf of Investcom by Mr Jamal Ramadhan, Investcom’s Executive Director. Present at the signing ceremony at Thuraya’s Headquarters in Abu Dhabi were Mr Yousuf Al Sayed, Thuraya’s Chief Executive, Mr Jamal Al Jarwan, Thuraya’s Executive Manager Business Development and other officials.
In a press statement following the signing ceremony, Mr Omran said the SP agreement has laid an important groundwork for a strategic alliance between Thuraya and Investcom as a dynamic telecom partner. “We are pleased about this new partnership, and for having concluded this key deal which covers four markets within Thuraya’s 99-country coverage area,” he said.
He also added that this agreement with Investcom has brought the total number of countries where service provision agreements have been signed to 26 countries from various parts of Thuraya’s coverage area in Europe, Africa and Asia. “It is an achievement for our mobile satellite system to have accomplished this major stride much before its commercial launch, which is why Thuraya is increasingly earning a leadership position within the world’s satellite telecommunications industry,” emphasised Mr Omran, adding that the next two weeks will witness a very special regional event as the Thuraya-1 satellite is being launched.
Investcom Holding’s Executive Director Mr Ramadhan praised the new partnership with Thuraya, saying it boosts and complements Investcom’s strategy which aims at playing a greater role in the telecommunications market especially in regions and countries where Investcom already has major investments.
“We strongly believe in Thuraya as a leading telecom initiative and a major boost to the telecom infrastructure and services currently available within its coverage area,” he explained, elaborating that the commercial partnership with Thuraya will further expand Investcom’s wide portfolio of telecommunications solutions.
“Our vision is focused on continuous expansion of mobile and wireless coverage. Hence, our partnership with Thuraya’s mobile satellite system offers tremendous opportunities towards achieving that vision,” he said.
He also mentioned that the four countries where Investcom has become Thuraya’s Service Provider (Lebanon, Ghana, Guinea and Benin) will have a big success potential for Thuraya’s mobile satellite services, especially in the way Thuraya is going to extend the mobile service coverage to all parts of these countries, as well as the benefits of the Global Positioning System ( GPS) feature and its many related applications.
Investcom Holding was established in 1982, starting with the retail of telecommunications equipment and accessories, to the installation and management of mobile communication systems, and ending with international carrier networks. Currently, Investcom affiliated companies offer complete turnkey telecommunications solutions to governmental and private sectors. The number of its mobile subscribers has now exceeded 300,000, with assets of more than US$ 100 million and a sizeable workforce of over 2000 employees.