Thuraya makes world’s first high-speed Internet connection through satellite handheld terminal
ABU DHABI, Aug. 22, 2006. — Thuraya achieved a milestone last week when engineers made an high-speed Internet connection using a handheld satellite phone. It was the world’s first such call and yet another feat for the rapidly expanding regional company that has the largest subscriber base for satellite handsets with more than 250,000 users.
Project Manager Ahmed Mansoor Al Abd and his team made the first successful “packet call” on the SO-2510 handset on Wednesday. Packet call refers to the data transmission technology known as GPRS, or General Packet Radio Service.
Until now, such connections were only possible through latest GSM phones or special satellite kits like ThurayaDSL, which provides high-speed data service.
“We were able for the first time to browse the Internet and download files,” Mansoor Al Abd said.
His team used Thuraya’s second-generation handset, which is the world’s smallest and lightest satellite phone, to go online. Limited numbers of the SO-2510 were introduced to the market recently ahead of its full commercial launch in September. GPRS software will be included in the units that go on sale next month and current users will be able to download it once the launch takes place.
The Internet feature is expected to bolster Thuraya’s penetration in markets where GSM services are not available. In addition to making voice calls, handset users can download information at speeds of up to 60Kbps and upload at about 15Kbps while ThurayaDSL subscribers can send or receive data at speeds of up to 144Kbps.
Thuraya will initially offer a basic GPRS service to the second-generation handset users for an additional fee. Plans are also underway for introducing a number of GPRS-based advanced features.