MUMBAI: Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications will receive its third satellite, Thuraya 3, from its manufacturer Boeing by early June.

Thuraya offers quality dual-mode terminals that offer satellite and GSM connectivity. This flexibility ensures continuous and cost-effective roaming for users.

Thuraya's system has been adapted for efficient operation in both satellite and GSM environments. It provides high flexibility in managing network resources through a re-programmable satellite payload. This supports modifications to the system's coverage area even in the post-launch period and optimises performance over high demand areas.

Thuraya's satellites have been specially designed to achieve network capacity of about 13,750 telephone channels. Thuraya's hand held mobile terminals are comparable to GSM handsets in terms of size and appearance, as well as in voice quality.

Thuraya chief executive for business development Jamal Al Jarwan said that the company will put the third satellite in the standby mode ready for launch, considering that the Thuraya 3 will operate in the same orbit of Thuraya 1 over East Asia..

Jarwan said the company was considering many options for financing the cost of launching and commercially operating the third satellite amounting to nearly $300 million (Dhs1.1 billion). Among them, the company was currently zeroing in on two basic options.

In September, Thuraya had launched its satellite services in Morocco. The introduced services in Morocco included the satellite services of Thuraya's dual mode hand held mobile phone and the rural telephony solutions or the Public Calling Office (PCO).

Thuraya-1 satellite was launched on 21st October 2000; on board a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket from the equator in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It was the heaviest commercial payload ever launched and the first commercial satellite to employ digital beam forming.

Thuraya's second satellite Thuraya 2 was launched on 10 June 2003. The earlier mentioned third satellite will expand system capacity.