Thuraya Signs Up Partner in Bangladesh
Abu Dhabi: With the launch date of its regional mobile satellite system approaching, Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company is steadily progressing in expanding its commercial partnerships in the region, the latest being in Bangladesh.
Asianet Limited of Bangladesh has become Thuraya’s nineteenth service provider by representing Thuraya in the Bangladeshi market.
The Service Provider agreement was signed today, 9 July 2000, at a special ceremony held at Thuraya’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The agreement was signed by Thuraya’s Chief Executive Mr Yousuf Al Sayed and Asianet ’s Managing Director, Mr Asif Moyeen. Present at the ceremony were Thuraya’s Executive Manager Business Development Mr Jamal Al Jarwan and senior officials from both the companies.
The Service Provider accord provides Asianet with the rights to distribute and market Thuraya’s products and services in Bangladesh. It includes distribution of user terminals and SIM cards, as well provisions to oversee pricing, billing and all customer care aspects.
Asianet is part of a diversified group of companies in Bangladesh. Providing online data processing to its clientele in the US, the group has a range of business activities from steel, textile, tea plantations, to hospitality, travel and leisure management.
Commenting on this partnership, Thuraya’s Chief Executive Mr Al Sayed said, “This association marks another cornerstone achievement for Thuraya, for Bangladesh constitutes a major market in Asia for Thuraya’s satellite-enhanced services,”
“With this agreement, Thuraya looks forward to building strategic relations aimed at enhancing and expanding the telecommunications services available in Bangladesh through the advantages of its advanced satellite telecommunications technology,” he said, adding that Thuraya will provide telecom services and solutions in areas that are currently uncovered by the national terrestrial network of Bangladesh.
“An important feature of the Thuraya system is that it can provide blanket coverage for telecommunications services for each country within its entire coverage area from day of satellite commercial operation,” said Mr Al Sayed.
Asianet’s Managing Director Mr Moyeen remarked that the agreement was a important step in initiating advanced satellite telecommunications technology in Bangladesh. “We are proud to have partnered with the region’s leading mobile satellite operator,” he said.
“We have great confidence in the Thuraya system in terms of its economical advantage and the technological superiority, and believe that our partnership with Thuraya is a major stride in the progress of Bangladeshi telecommunications sector,” he elaborated, adding that the Thuraya system will be particularly helpful in managing natural disasters, which from time to time hit some Asian countries.
Bangladesh is a country with mostly flat alluvial plains and hilly in north and southeast regions. Telecommunications in Bangladesh is rapidly expanding to cater to the wide expanses of multicultural Bangladeshi community. Thuraya’s mobile satellite services will boost and complement the existing variety of fixed and mobile telecommunications.