News

Space42 Unveils “Thuraya One” Satellite Smartphone

The Android 14 device will offer uninterrupted communication in remote areas without additional hardware.

Published

2 years ago

March 3, 2025

space42 unveils thuraya one satellite smartphone

Thuraya, the satellite communications division of Space42, has revealed its new Thuraya One smartphone — an Android 14 device with integrated satellite capabilities. Announced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, the phone is designed to keep users connected even in areas beyond traditional cellular coverage. Utilizing 5G and 4G, combined with Thuraya’s satellite infrastructure (including the newly launched Thuraya 4 satellite) the device offers reliable and secure connectivity in practically any environment.

Space42 is currently showcasing the Thuraya One at its stand during MWC in Barcelona, running from March 3-6, 2025. As one of the largest global connectivity events, MWC serves as the perfect stage for the big reveal of this next-generation smartphone that allows travelers and professionals to stay connected without having to carry extra satellite communication gear.

As well as satellite connectivity, the Thuraya One has dual-SIM slots, allowing users to switch between networks effortlessly. The phone supports SIM cards from over 370 Thuraya Roaming Partners worldwide, and customers can use a single number for both cellular and satellite communication.

Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Yahsat Space Services, Space42, stated, “Staying connected is no longer a convenience, it is a necessity. Thuraya One delivers seamless, secure, and reliable connectivity anywhere, pushing what is possible in mobile communication. With this advanced capability, we are accelerating our position as a Non-Terrestrial Networks operator and executing our Direct-to-Device strategy to bring uninterrupted connectivity to billions of people and devices worldwide”.

Also Read: Dubai Teams Up With Elon Musk’s Boring Company For “Dubai Loop”

The Thuraya One doesn’t just offer reliable connectivity; it also packs high-end hardware. Featuring a 6.67” AMOLED display for vivid visuals, a Qualcomm Octa-core Kryo processor for smooth performance, and a robust triple-camera system with a 50MP main lens, the smartphone is built to handle a variety of needs. Its IP67 rating ensures durability against dust and water, while a fast-charging battery provides up to 26 hours of talk time on 5G—making it ideal for field professionals and adventurers alike.

Thuraya One is now available through Thuraya’s extensive network of over 140 service partners and distributors worldwide.

News

Visa’s Return To Syria Starts With A Test And A Bank In Lebanon

Foreign visitors will be the first users to benefit, but whether Syria’s own banks and cardholders follow is still an open question.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Dana Saadeh

visa's return to syria starts with a test and a bank in lebanon

Visa is returning to Syria. Its first live international card transaction in the country was a test rather than a launch, and the milestone event ran through a Lebanese bank.

The acquirer (the bank on the merchant’s side of a card payment) was Fransabank Lebanon, with Paymera as the other named partner. Nadim Moujaes, who heads a Fransabank Group subsidiary, describes the test as both the culmination of “longstanding efforts to link Syria back to international payment networks” and “the first step in a larger path”.

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa makes the first electronic payment in Syria using a @Visa card at a store in Damascus, following the lifting of US sanctions on Syria. pic.twitter.com/lpAN7nQ6Fc

— Tech Magazine (@TechMGZN) August 27, 2026

“We are excited to have successfully tested live transactions today as we plan to enable international visitors to use their Visa cards while in Syria,” says Leila Serhan, Visa’s senior vice president and group country manager for the North Africa, Levant and Pakistan region. Although a significant first step, that plan doesn’t come with a hard date for when a visitor’s card will work normally.

Mohammed Safwat Raslan, governor of the Central Bank of Syria, says the test paves the way for international card acceptance in Syria and that maintaining strong compliance, risk management and operational controls will remain essential. Serhan likewise stresses that Visa has worked within applicable legal, regulatory and compliance requirements. For a test transaction, it seems there was a great deal of attention paid to the rules, with the entire operation being carefully managed.

Also Read: Lebanon’s 5G Era Begins With 150 Stations And A $1M Budget

The test is the latest step in a sequence that began in December 2025, when Visa announced a strategic roadmap to support Syria’s integration into the global digital economy. In February 2026 it hosted its first industry gathering of banks, ecosystem partners and policymakers in Damascus and, the same month, signed an agreement with Syria’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in San Francisco.

Michel Kattouah, Paymera’s CEO, called the test “the return of international card acceptance,” but while that’s positive news, there’s no word yet on when a Syrian bank will issue a Visa card to a Syrian customer.