Thuraya enhances partnership agreement with the ITU to provide mobile satellite communications for emergency response
 

 

December 4, 2014

 

Thuraya Telecommunications Company, has increased its commitment to emergency communications response with the donation of Thuraya satellite phones to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Thuraya is providing the ITU with a supplementary stock of XT handsets to enable relief workers and first responders to connect and coordinate efforts during times of emergencies.  

 

Thuraya Chief Executive Officer Samer Halawi said the agreement further extends the use of its satellite equipment for disaster relief. “At Thuraya, we strongly believe in our purpose to save and improve lives. We remain deeply committed to continuing our involvement in emergency communications programs, and to strengthening our partnership with the ITU. We provide reliable, cost-effective and rapidly-deployable mobile satellite services to NGO customers around the world, and are delighted to leverage our experience in our enhanced long term partnership with the ITU."   

 

Thuraya’s satellite equipment will enhance ITU’s capacity in deploying mobile communications to assist countries in preparing for disasters and in strengthening response and recovery mechanisms. Thuraya will also provide ITU with preferential airtime rates and technical training support. 

 

ITU Chief, Projects and Knowledge Management Cosmas Zavazava said: “We thank Thuraya for their generous contribution. This partnership builds on our long-standing cooperation and comes at a critical time when many countries are being affected by humanitarian crises including the Ebola outbreak resulting in thousands of people losing their lives. Mobile satellite communications provides a critical link for humanitarian agencies and victims." 

 

Thuraya provides mobile satellite-based solutions that are critical in supporting ITU activities aimed at helping countries better respond to disasters and humanitarian crises. Thuraya’s network has the unique ability to prioritize and increase signal availability over disaster hot spots. This feature is called Dynamic Resource Allocation which ensures that relief teams and victims get the connectivity they need without any congestion. Thuraya XT is the world’s toughest and smallest satellite phone. Certified with an IP54/IK03 durability rating, the phone is water resistant, dust and shockproof. Thuraya XT boasts full walk-and-talk functionality, can even work with the antenna stowed away and can be charged with a solar charger when power grids are down.