Thuraya and ViaSat form M2M partnership
Companies to jointly deliver a highly secure, end-to-end managed M2M service targeting end-users across Energy, Utilities, Logistics and Enterprise sectors
DUBAI, UAE, May 19, 2014 – Thuraya Telecommunications Company, a leading Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator and ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) have signed a partnership agreement to develop and launch a dedicated Machine-to-Machine (M2M) platform combined with M2M specific products and commercial packages. Together, the companies will leverage their respective strengths to create a highly competitive offer for the satellite M2M market. The Thuraya/ViaSat M2M solution will be a highly secure, end-to-end managed service boasting a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over the lifetime of an M2M project. The M2M service is ideal for end-users across the energy, utilities, logistics and enterprise sectors, among others.
M2M will be a key growth engine for satellite services in the next few years. Thuraya and ViaSat have a vision for a faster and more secure offering to address the higher-end requirements of the energy, enterprise and military sectors.
Thuraya is a leader in the MSS sector serving the land mobile and maritime markets with innovative, high-quality and cost-effective mobile satellite solutions across its network which covers Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.
ViaSat technology uses satellite bandwidth more efficiently to lower the cost of ownership and enable advanced features for M2M applications, including multicast and improved network security. Through extensive experience in serving U.S. government customers with highly secure and rugged satellite-based global services, the company has created a new waveform optimized for M2M.
Randy Roberts, Vice President of Innovation at Thuraya, says, “Thuraya recognizes that one of the key drivers of the Internet of Things (IoT) is the growing adoption of M2M technology across industries. The partnership with ViaSat will enable us to broaden our M2M product portfolio, for both fixed and mobile applications, to better serve our enterprise users’ need for asset tracking and remote monitoring services. The strategic partnership with ViaSat will address this through a proven, highly secure, cost-effective and reliable M2M platform to manage these processes effectively.”
Phil Berry, Vice President, ViaSat MSS said, “Thuraya’s dependable satellite network infrastructure is the ideal platform for the Thuraya ViaSat M2M network. That dependability is crucial when access to connectivity has to be quickly established, even in remote locations, to facilitate tracking, reporting, and monitoring.”
The Thuraya ViaSat M2M service is planned for launch in early 2015. In the meantime, the focus is on recruiting M2M application developers and further augmenting distribution capabilities.
About Thuraya Telecommunications Company
Thuraya Telecommunications Company is an industry leading MSS operator and a global telecommunication provider offering innovative communications solutions to a variety of sectors including energy, broadcast media, maritime, military and humanitarian NGO. Thuraya’s superior network enables clear communications and uninterrupted coverage across two thirds of the globe by satellite and across the whole planet through its unique GSM roaming capabilities. The company’s diverse range of technologically superior and highly reliable mobile satellite handsets and broadband devices provide ease of use, value, quality and efficiency. Thuraya remains committed to serving humanity through delivering the essential tools for optimal connectivity, never leaving anyone out of reach. Visit www.thuraya.com
About ViaSat
ViaSat delivers fast, secure communications, Internet, and network access to virtually any location for consumers, governments, enterprises, and the military. The company offers fixed and mobile satellite network services including Exede by ViaSat, which features ViaSat-1, the world’s highest capacity satellite; service to more than 2,900 mobile platforms, including Yonder® Ku-band mobile service; satellite broadband networking systems; and network-centric military communication systems and cybersecurity products for the U.S. and allied governments. ViaSat also offers communication system design and a number of complementary products and technologies. Based in Carlsbad, California, ViaSat employs over 3,000 people in a number of locations worldwide for technology development, customer service, and network operations. Visit www.viasat.com
