Mobile satellite services provider Thuraya (News - Alert) recently revealed that it has been chosen by Ericsson as its sole vendor for the circuit switched core network that is the company’s signature solution. With the two companies reaching an agreement, Ericsson will be able to upgrade the solution and implement an advanced billing mediation solution. Ericsson (News - Alert) will also be providing support services for the next five years at least.

Thuraya’s Chief Technology Officer, Ahmed Ali Al Shamsi talked about the newly formed strategic alliance commenting, “As a global leader in mobile satellite services, we take pride in our network, which offers the best quality services in the industry. It is important that we can maintain a high level of network availability and can offer our customers the highest quality voice and data communication services.”

Thuraya believes that Ericsson’s innovative solutions will bring a vision and service to the customers that will be better than ever before. The partnership will potentially help the satellite services provider reach some of its long term goals when it comes to growth and reach. Specifically, the integration of Ericsson’s mediation solution will enable its new partner to handle customers, partners and services in a convergent system that will quite a bit more streamlined.

It is important to note however that this is hardly a new endeavor for either company. The partnership between the two actually began about 15 years ago. Back then, Thuraya and Hughes (News - Alert) International gave Erisson its first network contract. The two companies have been working closely together since 1997. The twosome believe that this new contract will mean that both are able to grow and provide new services to new customers in an area of the world that is looking for better networking.