DE-FARIA

By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA-
THURAYA Telecommunications, a leading Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator has entered into an agreement with Bharti Airtel International to provide its customers with mobile satellite products and services across 17 countries in Africa.
The partnership will provide Airtel Africa customers voice and broadband connectivity via Thuraya’s satellite network across the continent’s most remote areas.
Starting from May onwards, Airtel Africa will sell Thuraya’s products and airtime packages at their retail outlets and through their Enterprise account team.
In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, Thuraya chief executive officer Samer Halawi said: “Thuraya’s partnership with Airtel Africa is a very positive development in bridging the digital divide in Africa.
“We recognise the massive impact that access to reliable communications can have on the lives of ordinary people.”
Mr Halawi said the company’s robust satellite network would enable Airtel Africa to provide its consumer and enterprise users with reliable, high quality voice and broadband services.
He said Thuraya was well-positioned to support customer-centric mobile operators like Airtel Africa that are looking to extend their network and services with satellite-based solutions.
Airtel Africa chief executive officer Christian de Faria said:”Providing reliable connectivity in many remote parts of Africa can be challenging. “This partnership enables us to further extend our coverage and services for businesses and general consumers who live or work in very remote areas.
Thuraya’s satellite services will be combined with the reliable, high-quality voice calls and broadband access that our customers are accustomed to experiencing in our urban centers.”