Starting next year, Saudi Arabians will be able to call more than 99 countries through satellite-linked public phones, Saudi and Swiss officials stated after signing a communications agreement.
The Saudi Arabian Wire and Wireless Communication Company and the Swiss Landis and Gear Communication Company signed an agreement to bring satellite-linked public phones to Saudi Arabia. They will be linked to the United Arab Emirates’ Thuraya communications satellite, which will be in orbit by the end of this year.
The new public phones are specifically designed to provide communication services to remote villages and places that lack proper communications infrastructure. Pre-paid calling cards will be used to operate the satellite public phones.
It's about being able to provide people, even in the remotest areas, with this exceptional service," said Mohammed Ammran, chairman of the board at Thuraya Communications. He said satellite phones would be a "vital part of Thuraya's services."
Saudi Arabia's Wire and Wireless Communications Company is currently in charge of communications projects in both Syria and Saudi Arabia. It has setup and maintained over 100,000 public telephones in Saudi Arabia. Landis and Gear has setup more than 2.9 million public phones in more than 70 countries. — (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
