Thuraya offers roaming to prepaid subscribers
Abu Dhabi, Feb. 26, 2007 – Thuraya has added prepaid subscribers to its fast-growing roaming service portfolio. Like GSM, only postpaid subscribers were able to use this facility until now.
The service will allow Thuraya prepaid subscribers to make calls and send SMS while roaming on GSM networks. Prepaid roaming is initially available through Ettihad Etisalat (Mobily) of Saudi Arabia, but will gradually expand to several GSM networks.
Thuraya is the only mobile satellite services (MSS) provider to offer Prepaid Roaming, which comes as part of the Company’s continued service innovation and differentiation strategy. With some 250,000 subscribers, Thuraya has the largest subscriber base for mobile handhelds, of which the vast majority is prepaid customers.
“Hence, with increased expansion of the Prepaid Roaming partners, the service is expected to be a major attraction for Thuraya’s subscribers in the 110 countries currently under its coverage,” said Sultan Al Ghafli, Thuraya’s Chief Commercial Officer.
Efforts are underway to add more GSM networks to the service, he said. Thuraya already has roaming agreements with 220 GSM networks around the world for postpaid subscribers.
Furthermore, Prepaid Roaming will also enable GSM prepaid subscribers, for the first time, to make calls and send SMS while roaming on a satellite network.
Thuraya offers a highly competitive roaming charge for GSM subscribers using GSM SIM cards in Thuraya handsets. For travellers, that means a huge saving on their phone bills. GSM users can also maintain their number while roaming in the vast Thuraya coverage area.