China Mobile, Thuraya form new mobile satellite phone business

A joint announcement from China Mobile Satellite Communication Group Ltd., China Telecom Satellite Communications Co Ltd., and Thuraya Telecommunications Co. revealed that the three partners have successfully debuted a new business focusing on mobile satellite phones.

China Mobile is the only company licensed to operate in the Yangtze River Delta Region. As part of an exclusive partnership agreement, China Mobile will introduce and exclusively offer Thuraya's mobile satellite communications devices and services to enterprise consumers in China.

In return, UAE-based satellite mobile telecom operator Thuraya will extend technical and marketing support to China Mobile customers.

China Mobile Satellite Communication Group will introduce the the first batch of Thuraya satellite phones to the enterprise market in March 2013.

The maritime industry in China operates a million fishing boats. It is considered to be the biggest target market of mobile satellite phone services.

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Thuraya partners with SoftBank Mobile for satellite network services in Japan

A joint announcement by Thuraya Telecommunications and SoftBank Mobile revealed that the two companies have formed a partnership to offer mobile satellite communications services to business, enterprise, and consumer subscribers in Japan. The new partners will leverage Thuraya’s network of communications satellites for their aforementioned services.

Softbank Mobile has received approval to distribute Thuraya’s satellite network services in Japan. The distribution channels of the Japanese telecommunications company will begin offering Thuraya’s handsets and airtime services starting February 2013. Both companies will also develop a new Thuraya handset with unique features; SoftBank Mobile will be the exclusive distributor of the new handset.

The new partnership provides SoftBank users with access to Thuraya’s communications satellite network in areas that cannot be reached by terrestrial networks due to remote rough terrain or natural disasters. The satellite communications services extended by Thuraya will allow individual and enterprise consumers to enjoy clear communications at any time and anywhere in Japan and its surrounding maritime areas.

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