The SF2500 will be available to end-users under the Thuraya MarineComms brand. The Indonesian Fisherman Association has already adopted the product and Thuraya expects the offering to attract other global maritime end-users as fuel prices increase and disillusion grows with traditional at-sea communications.

   “The Indonesian Fisherman Association is exactly the kind of organization we expect the SF2500 to appeal to, and we are very pleased to see them sign up even before the product’s official launch,” Thuraya CEO Samer Halawi said in a statement. “Fishing is one of the three most dangerous occupations in the world, but lack of affordability has placed reliable satellite communications outside the reach of many fishermen until now. Smaller form factors and more affordable technology mean it’s easier to keep satellite equipment onboard even in very small vessels, making it safer for fishermen to do their jobs and stay in touch with shore.”