TrustComm builds new Starlight regional gateway in Cyprus

February 25, 2014

TrustComm Inc., the premier small-business provider of assured satellite communications solutions to government and commercial organizations, today announced it has begun its international expansion with the construction of a gateway in Cyprus.   

Initially, the private ground infrastructure will enable TrustComm to offer an enhanced version of its new Starlight mobile satellite services (MSS).  TrustComm’s Starlight, introduced in November 2013, is an end-to-end, U.S.-managed implementation of mobile satellite data and voice services delivered via the Thuraya Telecommunications Company (Thuraya) – a leading mobile satellite operator.   

The dedicated gateway is being built at Cyta’s Makarios Teleport in Cyprus, a site that has been offering reliable solutions for satellite services for more than 30 years.  The new gateway’s data switching equipment is provided by Hughes Network Systems LLC.  The gateway’s earth-station systems are provided by Integral Systems Europe Ltd., a subsidiary of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions (NASDAQ: KTOS).  The satellite space segment is provided by Thuraya.  

The new gateway will enable TrustComm to offer Starlight data services that are fully functional and independent from Thuraya’s current packet gateway in Sharjah, UAE.  With the advent of the new gateway, Starlight subscriber-authentication information will be managed and maintained in the United States.

 

This architecture is ideal for commercial and government users requiring assured satellite communications.  With Starlight, a U.S. company (TrustComm) controls the full service lifecycle, while leveraging Thuraya’s satellite network and terminal equipment.  The TrustComm-managed Starlight gateway will support all standard Thuraya mobile satellite products and services.

 

Cyprus is the optimal site for this new regional satellite gateway.  This convenient European location provides visibility to both the Thuraya-2 and Thuraya-3 satellites.  It is strategically located to serve Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.  The new gateway will be integrated with TrustComm’s Secure Network Operations Centers (S-NOCs) in Houston, Tex. and Stafford, Va.  It also will provide the necessary interface with other Thuraya gateways and public terrestrial networks. 

 

“Our new Starlight gateway in Cyprus is the latest major step in our global infrastructure expansion that includes the hiring of additional operations engineers and teleport staff.  This expansion further demonstrates our commitment to offer the most advanced, assured MSS solutions required by U.S. and international customers with global requirements,” said TrustComm’s Chief Executive Officer Bob Roe.  “Our partnership with Thuraya, Cyta, Hughes and Integral ensures that this venture is developed with the industry’s most innovative, reliable components.”

 

Thuraya’s Chief Executive Officer Samer Halawi said, “The extension of our partnership with TrustComm is further evidence of our commitment and ambitions to expand and diversify our customer base in the United States.  Thuraya is fully dedicated to providing best-in-class services, solutions and support for our customers – together with TrustComm.  The new gateway will further enhance our network’s resiliency and provide an end-to-end, managed Thuraya service for government and commercial users.”