UAE-based Thuraya Telecommunications Company has inked a deal with Bharti Airtel International BV to provide Airtel Africa customers with mobile satellite products and services across 17 countries in Africa.

A leading Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator, Thuraya said it will provide Airtel Africa customers voice and broadband connectivity via its satellite network across the continent’s most remote areas.

Commencing from May onwards, Airtel Africa will sell Thuraya’s products and airtime packages at their retail outlets and through their Enterprise account team, it stated.

CEO Samer Halawi 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. Thuraya’s robust satellite network will enable Airtel Africa to provide its consumer and enterprise users with reliable, high quality voice and broadband services," he noted.

"Thuraya is well-positioned to support customer-centric mobile operators like Airtel Africa that are looking to extend their network and services with satellite-based solutions," he added.

According to him, extending mobile networks into remote or rural areas presents both geographical obstacles and business challenges for connecting people in Africa.

"Thuraya’s satellite network 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," he stated.

"Thuraya’s mobile satellite service can address the diverse voice and data communication needs of Airtel Africa enterprise users across the mining, energy, media, government and humanitarian NGO sectors, he added.

 Airtel Africa CEO Christian de Faria said providing reliable connectivity in many remote parts of Africa could 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," he added.-TradeArabia News Service