Proof of the continuing importance of the handheld satellite phone market comes with the announcement that Thuraya has launched what it calls an enhanced generation of its popular XT-PRO DUAL satellite and cellular feature phone.
Thuraya Telecommunications Company, the mobility arm of the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider Yahsat, says it is releasing the upgrade to one of Thuraya’s top-selling and most popular phones as demand for dual-mode communications soars worldwide.The XT-PRO DUAL is a dual-mode, dual-SIM satellite-cellular phone that allows users to move in and out of terrestrial coverage and seamlessly connect with ease, regardless of their location.
The upgrade means it can support terrestrial 4G LTE networks for flexible connectivity. Of course the phone also caters for users in harsh environments, and thus the ingress protection has been increased to the IP65/IK05 standard, which makes the phone dust and water-resistant as well as shockproof.
Both ingress protection (IP) and impact resistance (IK) codes relate to standards prepared and published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The target market for the satellite phone is a wide one that includes fire brigades police forces, officials managing disaster relief efforts, border controls and coast guards. Not surprisingly, Thuraya says it is also ideal for the oil and gas, mining and infrastructure development sectors.
Thuraya XT-PRO DUAL is available this month.