As part of its strategy to expand its market presence in the Asia Pacific region, Thuraya has announced the launch of the Company's mobile satellite service in Korea.

The announcement was made at a ceremony attended by Korean telecom officials, special guests from the corporate and telco sectors, and the media, under the patronage of Thuraya’s Chaiman, Mr. Mohammad Omran. Other special guests at the ceremony were Thuraya Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yousuf Al Sayed, and Dr. Jang-Soo Ryoo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Asia Pacific Systems Inc. (APSI). Thuraya’s service was launched in partnership with the company’s long-standing Korean business partner, APSI, which will serve as a Service Provider to offer customers an array of products and solutions to suit their mobile communication requirements. Keen interest in the service is expected to come from the marine, government, and emergency services sectors.

Korea is the latest market in which Thuraya has deployed its service in the Asia Pacific region since successfully launching its Thuraya-3 satellite in January last year. The region’s strong maritime, defence, and oil and gas industries make it a potentially lucrative expansion zone for Thuraya. According to the Korean Maritime Institute, the Asian region is emerging as a center for the world's maritime economy. Asia-Pacific countries operate more than 40 percent of the world's fleet and the region is home to 11 of the world's top 20 container shipping operators. In fact, half of the world's 24 busiest container ports are in Asia, and more than one third of world trade either originates in, or is destined for, this region.