14 September 2020

UAE mobile satellite services operator Thuraya has hired Ericsson for a core network modernisation and upgrade to a 4G- and 5G-ready infrastructure.

The Swedish giant will modernise and optimise Thuraya’s network to a virtualised core that supports existing and new features and services in the future.

Ericsson will also migrate the existing Thuraya users to the new platform and oversee its integration with existing systems. The operator’s mobile-data users, especially those in remote locations or areas where traffic is dense, will benefit from higher availability and reliability.

As a result, Thuraya can provide consumers more flexible and easy-to-use communication services integrated with various terminals.

“By modernising Thuraya’s core network, we are looking to build its resilience and enhance overall performance,” Adnan Al Muhairi, deputy chief technical officer of Thuraya said. “This would also improve other key aspects like guaranteeing more flexible, reliable and effective services.  Our strategy is to make optimum use of existing assets and invest in infrastructure upgrades so that the network is ready to accommodate Thuraya’s Next Generation System. We have a longstanding partnership with Ericsson and acknowledge them as a leader in deploying new technologies to enable high-quality mobile broadband solutions.”

By selecting Ericsson for the modernisation of its existing mobile-core, Thuraya extends its existing partnership, in which Ericsson has been the sole vendor for its circuit-switched core network.