Softbank had to obtain regulatory approval to gain access to Thuraya’s satellite network services in Japan, and as of February 2013, Thuraya’s handsets and airtime services will be sold to customers from Softbank Mobile’s distribution channels.
Services from the satellite provider will be available to Softbank users that venture outside of terrestrial networks, in areas where networks are either unavailable or prone to natural disaster.
The service roll-out will be extended to media, energy and government, in addition to a range of other enterprises.
“During the disruption caused to mobile network services when the Great East Japan Earthquake hit in 2011, satellite communication services played a significant role in restoring network transmission services and providing customers with preliminary communication services,” said Junichi Miyakawa, EVP, director and CTO at Softbank.
“By partnering with Thuraya, Softbank Mobile aims to provide reliable and easily deployable emergency mobile telecommunications services during times of disaster recovery operations.”
Miyakawa said he expects the partnership will lead to the company providing reliable mobile voice communications across the company’s broad geographic footprint both on land and at sea.
Samer Halawi, CEO at Thuraya, said both Softbank and the satellite communications provider was committed to providing reliable connectivity to serve humanity. “This groundbreaking alliance between our companies represents an exciting milestone for Softbank’s subscribers who can now benefit from comprehensive coverage of our satellite network,” he added.
The companies will further collaborate to create new Thuraya handsets with special features, and it will be exclusively available on the Softbank Mobile network.
