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Satellite phone provider hits back at military slur

The idea that troop positions might be betrayed by data held by Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has prompted a response from the company, saying that its system security is not compromisable.

"Thuraya system handsets offer users location services based on internationally accepted global positioning standards. We are confident that our system is robust in its design and that users' position data cannot be compromised," said Mr. Mohammad Omran, Thuraya's chairman.

Here's the rest of his press release:

The company's announcement comes after news reports noted that US military leaders in Iraq have banned the use of Thuraya satellite phones carried by journalists attached to their units due to concerns that the phones' signal could give away their location to Iraqi forces. "Of course we understand military planners' need to avoid potential safety risks to their personnel. However we wish to assure all Thuraya users that the technology of the Thuraya system ensures the security of users' location data," Omran said.

Designed and built by Boeing, the Thuraya satellite system offers users the combination of satellite or GSM mobile phone service along with Global Positioning System (GPS) location data. Dave Ryan, president of Boeing Satellite Systems International, a subsidiary of Boeing Satellite Systems, explained that the GPS information transmitted via a Thuraya phone is secured and protected by the system.

"Only Thuraya has access to the information, and it would be extremely difficult for an outsider to decode the GPS information reported," Ryan said. "To intercept and decode this information for unauthorised purposes would be a lengthy process requiring specialised skills and access to proprietary technical data."

Omran added that Thuraya is a private joint stock company that is politically unaligned, operates independently and is unaffected by events within its service region. "Thuraya is designed for civilian and commercial use. Thuraya phones are being used everywhere by all kinds of civilian users, in all sectors, industries and applications," Omran said.

The Thuraya network offers mobile satellite telecommunications services to more than 100 countries and has a footprint, encompassing Europe, North and Central Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia.

Here is a source of information about Thuraya.