Thuraya launches Public Calling Office in Zambia and Cameroon

The PCO, one of many versatile satellite-based telecom solutions offered by Thuraya, address regional needs for universal access to telecom and provides opportunities for small entrepreneurs in rural and under-developed areas.

The launch in the two African markets has been through commercial partnership with Fort Info Technology, a Dubai-based long-standing Service Provider for Thuraya services across several countries. The initiative in both Zambia and Cameroon is being undertaken in partnership with local Non Government Organisations (NGOs), who are responsible for installing the PCO in remote areas.

Thuraya's PCO is a telephone unit providing voice, data and fax communication for communities based in remote and rural areas who have no access to terrestrial networks. At cost-effective rates, it enables people to call and send text messages to friends, family and colleagues nationally and internationally in multiple languages and without having to purchase a mobile satellite handset.

In Cameroon, Fort partnered with "Help Out" a humanitarian NGO, whereby PCOs have been allocated to the bush areas and cocoa plantations. Similarly in Zambia, "Connect Africa," also an NGO have installed PCO units in the copper belt region and safari park areas. Thuraya's satellite-delivered rural communication services offer a vital link for remote communities to the rest of the country and the world.

"Thuraya has a long history in delivering communications to regions which lack basic fixed line and mobile telephony. This is combined with our capacity to provide border-to-border uninterrupted coverage in both countries at affordable prices,"

said Dr Sven Rohte, Chief Commercial Officer, Thuraya Telecommunications Company.

He also added that Thuraya's ongoing partnership with Fort now encompasses working relationships with humanitarian NGOs which are actively bringing business opportunities to the doors of people within the communities they support.

Fort's Manager of Development and Operations, Ms. Jane Macbeth added: "Both these projects in Cameroon and Zambia have received strong support from local governments and are a stepping stone in further rolling out the PCO which will be beneficial to the people of these countries who otherwise are provided with little or no stable and consistent means of communication. The PCOs have been well received by the communities who appreciate both the social and economic benefit of the service."