Vizada strengthens offering in Asia-Pacific through Thuraya coverage extension

The development follows the launch of the Thuraya-3 satellite in January 2008. The satellite has extended the coverage for Thuraya services throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including major markets like China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Australia.

Vizada is leveraging its local sales presence in Hong Kong and Singapore and long-standing experience providing mobile satellite services (MSS) to offer the Asia-Pacific customers the best Thuraya mobile satellite service in the region.

Vizada reaches end customers through a global alliance of service providers, giving essential local market knowledge and expertise. Vizada is currently supported by 45 service provider partners in this region.

Local Vizada teams and service providers have been pre-selling Thuraya services since the launch of the satellite in January. In particular, Vizada and service provider SatComms Australia are serving end customers in the Australian market, one of the major zones that now fall under the Thuraya satellite coverage area.

"When you think that as much as 82% of Australian territory is not covered by 'traditional' cellular coverage, it's clear there is a real need for a high-quality handheld satellite service providing voice telephony and an affordable internet connection in remote areas,"

said David Campbell, Business Development Manager, SatComms Australia.

Potential customers on this market include mining & resources companies, transport and fleet operators, leisure boating & yachting clients, as well as members of the public requiring a handheld satellite service in remote areas for health & safety as well as private communications.

SatComms Australia will provide Thuraya customers with remote mobile satellite communications expertise, including a customer service center employing remote communications specialists.

Vizada has more market share on more satellite networks than any other provider in the world. It has been a key partner to Thuraya for almost a decade, marketing and distributing the Thuraya range in the pre-2008 coverage zone of Europe, Middle East and Africa. In April 2008, Vizada was named "2007 Best Service Provider" out of 120+ Thuraya service providers worldwide.