AFRICELL SEALS DEAL WITH ‘WORLD’S TOUGHEST SATELLITE PHONE’

A pacesetter in the GSM industry of The Gambia has once again beaten the market by signing a deal with Thuraya, the world’s toughest satellite phone company, to revolutionise the way people communicate in their daily routine. On 10 May this year, Africell, the leading GSM company, in terms of customer-base, sealed a partnership deal with Thuraya. Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thuraya is a leading provider of innovative, affordable, and high-quality satellite communication solutions for the worldwide broadband satellite market.

The deal will see Africell have its already-wide network coverage further expanded, thus increasing its grip on the mobile communication industry. “This partnership is motivated solely by Africell’s passion and dedication to not only provide the best GSM services, but also to push the country forward in terms of achieving world-class communications in all aspects,” says Badara Mbye, Africell’s Chief Executive Officer. “The world’s toughest satellite phone, Thuraya XT, was designed to withstand the harshest of environments and the most extreme conditions to ensure you stay close, however remote the location,” a Thuraya statement says. “The combination of advanced voice clarity technology and an omni-directional antenna ensures an uninterrupted signal even during non-stationary calls, offering users a real ‘walk & talk’ experience.” Thuraya is already partnering with Africell in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Congo. Mr Mbye continues: “Thuraya makes use of three sophisticated technologies, which are ‘Satellite, Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM) and Global Positioning System (GPS) in order to provide satellite phones that can operate beyond terrestrial boundaries, that is, in areas where local networks are unreliable or non-existent, as well as, areas with harsh weather conditions. Thuraya products and services are widely used and the company’s network coverage spans through Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.”

For the Africell Gambia boss, sealing the deal with Thuraya would be not only a boost to his company’s revenue, but also “a great boost for both the public and private sectors as investors from every corner of the world will be highly Africell’s goal for sealing the deal is three-fold. These include bringing advanced and emerging technologies to the country; complementing communications efforts in the country; and saving cost and time of acquisition. With Thuraya-Africell partnership, customers of the consecutively three-time winner of the GSM of the year award will have network coverage in wider areas of the country. This move gives impetus to travellers familiar with moving around the countryside, where network in many areas are either ‘unavailable’ or ‘limited’. Roen Evan Menezes, Thuraya’s Area Manager, noted with satisfaction the partnership with Africell, saying Thuraya XT is the only satellite phone in the world to meet the industry’s highest criteria for splash resistance, dust resistance and shock proofing. “Wherever you are within Thuraya’s extensive coverage area, however remote the location, Thuraya brings you close to where you need to be,” he says. Thuraya’s phone will be available at Africell’s head office, at a cost to be announced later, Papa Leigh, Africell’s head of corporate affairs, says. “However,” Mr Leigh said, “the cost will be reasonable given the fact that Africell is here to mitigate the burden of hardship on its customers.” The launching was attended by cabinet ministers, head of the civil service, diplomatic and consular corps and members of the private sector.