Etisalat and Thuraya Partner to Offer Mobile Telecommunications via Satellite

Photo: Etisalat

[Via Satellite 12-28-2015] Etisalat has partnered with Thuraya Telecommunications to launch its new AnA Emarati mobile proposition, offering its mobile post-paid customers a bundle of Thuraya Telecommunication’s satellite-enabled calling minutes and Short Message Service (SMS) from anywhere in the world.

Customers opting for the AnA Emarati mobile post-paid satellite bundles can continue to place both GSM and satellite calls using their same, existing mobile number and phone. They benefit from an additional free SIM card with the same number to be inserted in the satellite Hotspot device. To make a satellite call, users need to have a clear line of sight to the satellite, which means outdoor areas with no trees or obstacles.

“This is a really creative and original approach, and we are pleased to work with Etisalat on the launch of the Thuraya SatSleeve Hotspot. The SatSleeve Hotspot is a creative and important new device for the consumer market that offers fast, simple connectivity on the move, in remote areas normally beyond the reach of smartphones, or in urban areas where terrestrial networks have become unavailable or unreliable. The innovative SatSleeve Hotspot also comes with an added safety feature: a programmable SOS button that works even if your smartphone isn’t connected. This convenient function lets customers call a predefined number of their choice in times of emergency,” said Bilal El-Hamoui, chief commercial officer at Thuraya Telecommunications.

Customers need to insert one SIM into their mobile phone and the other SIM in the SatSleeve Hotspot device, which allows them to connect their mobile phones with the SatSleeve Hotspot through Wi-Fi. The user needs to download the SatSleeve Hotspot App on their iPhone or android device, open up the SatSleeve Hotspot App, which will search for the Thuraya Telecommunications network automatically. It then allows the customer to make a satellite call, send a satellite SMS or access the address book to look up a contact through the SatSleeve Hotspot App.