Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Co. signed a contract with Boeing Satellite Systems International for the launch of the Thuraya-3 satellite aboard a Zenit- 3SL rocket, Sea Launch announced June 12.

Thuraya provides satellite-based telephone services to a region covering more than 100 countries in Europe, Africa, India, the Middle East and Asia. Thuraya-3, being manufactured by Boeing at the company’s Satellite Development Center, is intended to expand Thuraya’s capacity. The launch is scheduled to take place in January 2007.

This will be Sea Launch’s third mission for Thuraya. The launch provider placed Thuraya-1 in orbit in 2000 and Thuraya-2 in 2003.