STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN — (Marketwired) — 04/30/13 —

* Thuraya-s circuit-switched core network upgraded to support modern,
high-quality telecommunication services

* Agreement includes advanced billing mediation system, plus support
services
for five years

Mobile satellite services operator Thuraya has selected Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC)
as the sole vendor for its circuit-switched core network. Under the
agreement,
Ericsson will upgrade the Thuraya circuit-switched core network,
implement an
advanced billing mediation solution and provide support services for five
years.

Ahmed Ali Al Shamsi, Chief Technology Officer at Thuraya, says: “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. Ericsson-s innovative
solutions
and our vision to provide customers with the best possible connectivity
will
help us achieve our long-term expansion goals. We have selected Ericsson as
our
partner to upgrade our circuit-switched core network and maintain our
highly
stable and reliable network.”

Thuraya-s satellite network has always provided consistent connectivity in
remote locations. The core network upgrade – including a hardware upgrade
of
Thuraya-s Mobile Switching Center (MSC), and hardware and software
enhancements
for the Home Location Register (HLR), Operation Support Systems (OSS) and
Multi
Mediation platform – will give subscribers greater access to
telecommunication
services wherever they are and provide Thuraya with additional capacity to
handle future growth.

The integration and implementation of Ericsson-s billing mediation solution
will
enable Thuraya to handle all customers, partners and services in a
streamlined,
convergent system, reducing network complexity. Ericsson support services
ensure
that the network will be running efficiently and smoothly for the next five
years.

Rafiah Ibrahim, Executive Vice President, Region Middle East and Africa,
Ericsson says: “The rapid expansion of Thuraya-s satellite coverage demands
a
dynamic solution that will transform its existing infrastructure and
maintain
Thuraya-s growing, market-leading footprint. Our services and solutions
will
equip Thuraya with the latest technology that will simplify operations and
provide an unprecedented customer experience.”

Ericsson-s relationship with Thuraya began more than 15 years ago when
Thuraya
and Hughes International awarded the first network contract to
Ericsson in
1997. Since then, Ericsson has worked closely with Thuraya, which is
partly
owned by Etisalat, while it made its mark as a leading mobile satellite
service
provider of voice, data, maritime, rural telephony, fleet management and
other
telecommunication solutions in remote areas, expanding into more than
140
countries around the world.

NOTES TO EDITORS

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About Thuraya Telecommunications Company

Thuraya Telecommunications Company is an industry leading MSS operator and
a
global telecommunication provider offering innovative communications
solutions
to a variety of sectors including energy, broadcast media, maritime,
military
and humanitarian NGO.

Thuraya-s superior network enables clear communications and
uninterrupted
coverage across two-thirds of the globe by satellite and across the whole
planet
through its unique GSM roaming capabilities. The company-s diverse
range of
technologically superior and highly reliable mobile satellite
handsets and
broadband devices provide ease of use, value, quality and efficiency.
Thuraya
remains committed to serving humanity through delivering the essential
tools for
optimal connectivity, never leaving anyone out of reach. Visit

Ericsson is the world-s leading provider of communications technology and
services. We are enabling the Networked Society with efficient
real-time
solutions that allow us all to study, work and live our lives more freely,
in
sustainable societies around the world.

Our offering comprises services, software and infrastructure within
Information
and Communications Technology for telecom operators and other industries.
Today
more than 40 percent of the world-s mobile traffic goes through Ericsson
networks and we support customers- networks servicing more than 2.5 billion
subscribers.

We operate in 180 countries and employ more than 100,000 people. Founded in
1876, Ericsson is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2011 the company-s
net
sales were SEK 226.9 billion (USD 35.0 billion). Ericsson is listed on
NASDAQ
OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ, New York stock exchanges.

Ericsson named sole vendor for Thuraya core network upgrade:

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Source: Ericsson via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1697646]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

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