Bharti Airtel and Thuraya join for Airtel Africa

DUBAI, UAE: Thuraya Telecommunications Company, a Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator and Bharti Airtel International BV have announced an agreement to provide Airtel Africa customers with mobile satellite products and services across 17 countries in Africa.

Extending mobile networks into remote or rural areas presents both geographical obstacles and business challenges for connecting people in Africa. Thuraya's satellite network, as per the announcement details, helps bridge the digital divide by providing an immediate and cost-effective way for Airtel Africa to extend its coverage, while generating new revenue streams and providing vital connectivity. Thuraya's mobile satellite service is claimed to be capable to address the diverse voice and data communication needs of Airtel Africa enterprise users across the mining, energy, media, government and humanitarian NGO sectors.

Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya said, "Thuraya's partnership with Airtel Africa is a very positive development in bridging the digital divide in Africa. We recognize the massive impact that access to reliable communications can have on the lives of people."

Christian de Faria, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa said, "Providing reliable connectivity in many remote parts of Africa can be challenging. This partnership enables us to 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."