[Satellite TODAY 01-25-11] Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications is considering a possible $200 million satellite launch to extend its service coverage to the Americas, CTO Ahmed Ali Al Shamsi said at a press conference in Dubai.
    Al Shamsi said a new satellite would be feasible only if there is demand for the service and an investor willing to support the project. “The majority of Thuraya’s clients are ships servicing lines between the Persian Gulf, Europe and Asia … but we need to have an investor or a partner to go to the Americas,” Al Shamsi said.
    Thuraya’s latest market expansion plan was announced in October, when the Abu-Dhabi-based company signed a contract with Asian telco Chunghwa Telecom to provide services to the Taiwanese MSS market.