As part of rolling out its cutting edge services and products in the Asia Pacific region, Thuraya has appointed Teknikkom Electronic as a National Service Provider in Malaysia. According to the agreement, Teknikkom will be distributing Thuraya's world best satellite phones, allowing the Malaysian market to enjoy the availability of satellite mobile handhelds as a complementary solution to existing terrestrial applications.

Teknikkom is a specialised Malaysian wireless communications business that has an established reputation in both the public and private sectors.

Through Teknikkom's extensive distribution network it is expected that Thuraya's handhelds will be widely absorbed in the market by several sectors such as the oil and gas, NGOs, government and corporates as well as individual users located in remote areas. The handhelds will be available in the Malaysian market through Teknikkom within this week.

Thuraya is the world leading mobile satellite operator for handheld telephones having the SO-2510 phone that weighs 130 grams. In addition Thuraya has the world's "smartest" satellite phone, the SG-2520 which is a dual mode GSM and satellite phone. Both phones have GPS capabilities and allow you to connect to the internet.

In the future Thuraya's latest broadband solution, ThurayaIP as well as its marine solution, ThurayaMarine will be added to Teknikkom's portfolio of products.

ThurayaIP is an A5 size compact, portable and mobile satellite broadband solution that has a maximum transmission speed of 444 Kbps and a streaming speed of 384 Kbps. ThurayaMarine is a specialised service for several types of sea vessels ranging from commercial ships to fishing boats. It provides voice, data and fax communication and has a robust antenna to suit all sailing environments.

"Teknikkom is a valued partner and will be a great support for marketing Thuraya's satellite handhelds in the Malaysian market. Thuraya is pleased to be able to offer its advanced voice solutions that will meet the needs of those who require mobile satellite solutions in Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region," said Thuraya's Executive Manager Business Development, Mr. Abdallah Touhami.

He also added that Thuraya's broadband and maritime solutions as well as other specialised applications will help enhance communications for high-speed data users and maritime customers in Malaysia.

According to Teknikkom's Managing Director, Shamsul Majidi, "The partnership with Thuraya is a great opportunity for the Malaysian market as it provides customers with the option of high-quality voice solutions. Moreover, Thuraya's satellite handhelds will provide a vital communication link that will support local industries especially in areas where there are no terrestrial networks, as well as for customers who travel outside of Malaysia."