Four satellite companies from three different parts of the world are introducing a mobile voice service in Russia. Germantown, Md.-based Hughes Network Systems (HNS) is tapping into its experience in the Russian market to spearhead the rollout of Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company mobile satellite voice services in that country with the deployment of a gateway. Two Russian companies, TMSat and Russian Satellite Communications Co., also are participating in the arrangement. Thuraya has a $1 billion regional satellite voice service that has been capable of serving Russia for years but had yet to secure the right ground equipment and partners until now.

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