Thuraya
![]() | |
Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Mobile-satellite services |
Founded | 1997 |
Headquarters | United Arab Emirates |
Owners | Al Yah Satellite Communications |
Website | www |
Thuraya (
Thuraya is the mobile satellite services subsidiary of Yahsat, a global satellite operator based in the United Arab Emirates, fully owned by Mubadala Investment Company.[citation needed] The geostationary nature of the service implies high round trip times from satellite to earth leading to a noticeable lag being present during voice calls.
Services
- Voice communications with satellite phones or fixed terminals
- Short message service
- 60 kbit/s downlink and 15 kbit/s uplink GMPRSmobile data service on Thuraya satellite phones
- 444 kbit/s high-speed data transfer via a notebook-sized terminal (ThurayaIP)
- A number of other services, such as call waiting, missed calls, voicemail, etc.
- A one-way "high-power alert" capability that notifies users of an incoming call, when the signal path to the satellite is obstructed
Technical details of the network
Virtual country code
Thuraya's country calling code is +882 16, which is part of the ITU-T International Networks numbering group. Thuraya is not part of the +881 country calling code numbering group as this is allocated by ITU-T for networks in the Global Mobile Satellite System, of which Thuraya is not a part, being a regional rather than a global system.
Air interface
Transceivers communicate directly with the satellites using an antenna of roughly the same length as the handset and have a maximum output power of 2
Due to the relatively high gain of the antennas contained within handsets, it is necessary to roughly aim the antenna at the satellite. As the handsets contain a GPS receiver it is possible to program the ground position of the satellites as waypoints to assist with aiming. The service operates on L-band carriers assigned in blocks to areas of coverage referred to as "spotbeams", which are Thuraya's equivalent to cells or service areas. In L-band, 34 MHz of bandwidth from 1.525 GHz to 1.559 GHz is assigned for downlink (space-to-earth) communication, while the uplink (earth-to-space) operates between 1.6265 GHz and 1.6605 GHz. Uplink and downlink channels are 1087 paired carrier frequencies, on a raster of 31.25 kHz. A Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) time slot architecture is employed which allocates a carrier in timeslots of a fixed length.[citation needed]
Use of GPS
Every Thuraya phone and standalone transceiver unit is fitted with a
The built-in GPS capability can be used for waypoint navigation.Satellites
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/USA202_Thuraya2.jpg/220px-USA202_Thuraya2.jpg)
Thuraya operates two communications satellites built by Boeing.
- Thuraya 1
The first satellite, named Thuraya 1, had deficient solar panels and could not operate properly; this satellite was positioned above Korea for testing purposes. It was launched on 21 October 2000 by
- Thuraya 2
Thuraya 2 was launched by Sea Launch on 10 June 2003.
- Thuraya 3
The third satellite was planned for launch by
On 15th April 2024, Thuraya 3 suffered an "Unexpected Payload Anomaly" and despite attempted recovery efforts, coverage provided by this satellite was unable to be restored.[16] Thuraya advised that they have suffered a sustained Force Majeure event, and withdrew offering services to regions effected (such as Australia).
- Thuraya 4-NGS
Thuraya 4-NGS (Next Generation Satellite)[17] is a planned satellite that is currently scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2024.[18][19] It will replace Thuraya 2.[20]
Subscriber hardware
Handsets
- Ascom 21 – First generation handset, monochrome display, 9600 bit/s dial-up data, GSM900 compatible
- Hughes 7100 – First generation handset, monochrome display, 9600 bit/s dial-up data, GSM900 compatible
- Hughes 7101 – Functionally identical to Hughes 7100 but with added Wireless application protocolsupport
- Thuraya SO-2510 – Second generation handset, supports GmPRS (60/15 kbit/s), runs VxWorks
- Thuraya SG-2520 – Second generation handset, supports GmPRS (60/15 kbit/s), runs Windows CE, GSM900/1800 compatible
- Thuraya XT – Third generation handset, supports GmPRS
- Thuraya XT-DUAL – Third generation handset, supports GmPRS, GSM900/1800/1900
- Thuraya XT-PRO – Third generation handset, supports GmPRS
- Thuraya XT-LITE – Third generation handset, no packet data support. Even though Emails may be sent if configured instead of SMS.
- Thuraya XT-PRO Dual – Third generation handset, supports GmPRS, GSM, UMTS 2100
- Thuraya X5-Touch – World’s first Android Satellite Phone[21]
-
Hughes 7101
-
Thuraya SO-2510
-
Thuraya SIM
-
Thuraya phone in use
-
Thuraya XT-PRO DUAL registered simultaneously on the Thuraya network and the A1 GSM network in Austria
-
Thuraya Handsets on DSEI-2019, ExCel London
Sleeves
- SatSleeve Hotspot
References
- ^ "Arabic stars: Stellarium Wiki". Archived from the original on 2014-01-06.
- ISBN 9783842351622.
- ^ "XSAT USA plays role in recent K2 mountain rescue". Xsatusa.com. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^ "Electronic Weapons". Strategypage.com. 2003-04-24. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- NSSDC.
- ^ "Thuraya-1 Complete System for Mobile Communications". Boeing.
- ^ TBS info on Thuraya 1, visited on July 12, 2008
- ^ "Thuraya 2". NSSDC.
- ^ "Sea Launch Past Launches Thuraya-2". Boeing. Archived from the original on 2008-04-06.
- ^ Thuraya 2 and 3 info on Boeing website
- ^ "Documents". The Intercept.
- ^ "The Space Review: A Nemesis in the Sky: PAN, MENTOR 4". The Space Review.
- ^ "Current Mission: Thuraya-3". Sea Launch. Archived from the original on 2007-11-30.
- ^ "Sea Launch Continues Thuraya-3 Mission". SeaLaunch. Archived from the original on 2008-01-23.
- ^ "Sea Launch Delivers Thuraya-3 Satellite to Orbit". Sea Launch. Archived from the original on 2008-01-18.
- ^ "Thuraya Network Closure". www.pivotel.com.au. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ "Thuraya 4-NGS satellite system". Thuraya. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Rainbow, Jason (11 October 2022). "Yahsat invests in direct-to-cell enabler eSAT Global". SpaceNews. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (8 September 2021). "SpaceX wins contract to launch Yahsat's Thuraya 4-NGS satellite". SpaceNews. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Henry, Caleb (28 August 2020). "Yahsat begins Thuraya fleet refresh with Airbus satellite order". SpaceNews. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Thuraya X5-Touch is first Android satellite phone/smartphone combo". 2022-01-14. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-14.