Thuraya Telecommunications Company ThurayaIP Frequently Asked Questions December 2010 Service Provider Information ThurayaIP Frequently Asked Questions © THURAYA TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY December 2010 PAGE 1 OF 29
Table of Contents 1. Service.................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 2. Terminal ................................................................................................................................. 9 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 3. What is ThurayaIP service? ..........................................
.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 3.36 3.37 3.38 3.39 3.40 3.41 3.42 3.43 3.44 3.45 4. Antennas .............................................................................................................................. 16 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 5. Can any other SIM cards be used in ThurayaIP? .........................................................................................
5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 6. Prepaid Service ..................................................................................................................... 22 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10 6.11 6.12 7. 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 How is charging done for StandardIP? ....................................................................................................... 24 How is charging done for StreamingIP? ..............................
9.2 9.3 9.4 10. this? ...................................................................................................................................................... 28 Do I need to have a Public Static IP Address to establish VPN connection? ................................................... 28 Does Thuraya provide the VPN Client? ...................................................................................................... 28 Which VPN clients does ThurayaIP support? ....................
1. Service 1.1 What is ThurayaIP service? Reliable, affordable, portable, broadband data solution via Thuraya satellite using an A5 size compact, light weight terminal, especially useful for people who require reliable Internet access in areas with inadequate terrestrial infrastructure. The service is available across Thuraya’s vast coverage area. The service is based on Internet Protocol (IP) and offers broadband data solution on Shared Mode or Dedicated Mode. 1.
1.5 Are we required to use an external antenna with ThurayaIP unit? ThurayaIP can be used with and without an external antenna. It has an inbuilt antenna which can be used for StandardIP connectivity of up to 444 Kbps on the downlink. The internal antenna can also be used for StreamingIP uplink connectivity of up to 256 Kbps.
1.11 Who are the target subscribers? Oil and Gas, Defense, Government, Media, NGOs, SMEs, individuals who need reliable broadband Internet access using portable devices. 1.12 What is the Quality of Service? ThurayaIP offers two types of QoS: StandardIP: This service offers shared channel resources among several users. This means that in any spot beam, the number of users logged on and are actively using the service will be sharing the available channels.
2. Terminal 2.1 Where are the terminals made? Manufactured by Hughes Network Systems, Inc., USA ThurayaIP is a feature packed Satellite IP Modem, absolutely portable, robust; truly plug and play with unmatched flexibility in operations. 2.2 What does ThurayaIP Package contain? ThurayaIP package includes: ThurayaIP satellite IP modem AC Mains power adapter and cable Universal Power Adapter Rechargeable lithium ion battery Ethernet cable USB Cable User Manual CD Containing user manual 2.
ThurayaIP may be used indoors with an external antenna. Flat Panel External Antennas from European Antenna Ltd (Cobham) can be used with ThurayaIP terminal. 2.10 What are the ports or connectivity options available on the unit? ThurayaIP terminal has one USB port, one RJ45 port and one WLAN connectivity option. For details please refer to the specifications sheet below. 2.
3. Connecting to the Network 3.1 What are the basic steps to run ThurayaIP? Insert SIM, Power Up, and Obtain GPS fix Connect using Ethernet / USB or WLAN, Point to satellite, you are ready to move into StandardIP Normal Operational Mode to perform activities such as browsing. 3.2 What should I do to obtain GPS fix? Please refer to User Manual. Place ThurayaIP outside on a flat surface with a clear view of the sky. Power up ThurayaIP by pressing the Power button.
iMMI (Integrated Man Machine Interface) is the interface (LCD and few buttons) which is available on the ThurayaIP terminal which a user can use to configure, set up and use the ThurayaIP terminal. 3.7 What is Antenna Pointing Mode? In the Pointing Mode information regarding pointing of the terminal to the satellite can be viewed on the MMI and the terminal can be adjusted accordingly to get the best signal strength.
For Netscape or Firefox, go to Advanced Preferences and select ‘Direct connection to the Internet’. For Safari, select System Preferences / Network / Built-in Ethernet / Proxies and uncheck the box labeled ‘Web Proxy (HTTP).’ When complete please close your browser. You may need to enable this setting on return to other Internet connections. 3.17 Can ThurayaIP be used in maritime areas? ThurayaIP can also be used in maritime areas with compatible maritime antennas from Spacecom. 3.
In general no, but it is subject to the application you have used to download the file. 3.28 Can I use simultaneously streaming and standard IP? No, you cannot. You shall be able to use one at a time. 3.29 Can I setup user profiles on ThurayaIP? Yes, there are 4 default user profiles: Standard, 128kb/s streaming, 256kb/s streaming and 384kb/s streaming. 3.
3.39 Are the users notified in case there is a network outage? Yes, Thuraya Customer Care sends the notifications for planned as well as unplanned outages to the Service Providers who then notify the customers. 3.40 What is APN? APN is Access Point Name. 3.41 How many APNs do I need with an IP? One APN for StandardIP and one for StreamingIP. There might be some additional APN’s specific to the service used and the Service Provider rendering the service. 3.
4. Antennas 4.1 Which antennas are available with ThurayaIP? There are multiple antennas that have been approved by Thuraya for use with Thuraya IP. These are: 4.2 Can I use ThurayaIP on a ship? Yes, by using Thuraya IP with a Spacecom 3D maritime antenna approved by Thuraya 4.3 Can I use ThurayaIP in a moving car? Yes, by using ThurayaIP with a Spacecom 2D vehicle antenna approved by Thuraya 4.
Yes, you can use this. But for vehicular use we recommend using a ThurayaIP vehicle antenna from Spacecom for this operation.
5. Postpaid Service 5.1 What kinds of Postpaid Plans are available? ThurayaIP Postpaid Service offers the following plans: Starter Basic Extra Unlimited Stream 5.2 How will we be able to distinguish between the different monthly plans; are there 5 different Post paid Sims? Only one SIM Card for all ThurayaIP Postpaid package plans. Service Provider can activate as per subscriber requirements as Starter, Basic, Extra, Unlimited or Stream. 5.
5.9 How billing cycle is done for an unlimited plan? Suppose I subscribe on the 20th of July do I pay for the full month of July or just on a prorata basis? If on prorata basis, is it a daily one or a weekly one? In such a case, it is pro-rata on daily basis. 5.
Automatic shifting between Postpaid plans is not possible. Service Provider will be able to move subscribers from one plan to another as per the usual procedure in voice service by deactivating the subscriber from the current plan and reactivating him in another plan. If the subscriber is shifting from low usage plan to high usage plan, it is free. However, if the subscriber is moving from a high usage plan to a low usage plan then the charges apply, (For details contact your Country Manager). 5.
Yes, you can continue to use existing DSL SIM card on ThurayaIP terminal with two options: Maintain existing DSL subscription: Bandwidth restricted to 144 Kbps Upgrade to IP subscription: Bandwidth available shall be up to 444 Kbps 5.26 Can I get a postpaid IP unlimited SIM for 30 days only? Yes, you can subscribe for an unlimited postpaid service for a period of 1 month.
6. Prepaid Service 6.1 What are the Prepaid Plans available? Two Prepaid airtime plans are available Starter Unlimited 6.2 Do we have to make the first call to activate the prepaid Unlimited SIM card, (like any other Thuraya SIM card). Yes 6.3 Yes Is this first call starting the validity of the first unlimited voucher? 6.4 Can I make multiple refills and extend validity for longer periods? Yes, each refill adds SIM validity extension as above from expiry date of previous refill.
6.10 When account credit reaches 0, will I get disconnected in the middle of browsing or will the system wait until you close your session? When there is no credit available for deduction, session is disrupted within 15 minutes, after which no data transfer is allowed using the "ThurayaIP". The subscriber needs to change the APN to "refill" and restart the terminal to check balance or refill.
7. General 7.1 How is charging done for StandardIP? For StandardIP charging is based on usage. Usage includes browsing and the minor usage that occurs while remaining connected to the Internet. Charging is based on volume of data transferred and not based on time. Effectively if a ThurayaIP terminal connects in the morning till the evening, there would hardly be any charges (except the charges for minor usage that occur while remaining connected) 7.
7.10 Can we do the Over the Air (OTA) upgrade of ThurayaIP terminal? No. ThurayaIP terminal can be upgraded only by manually running the necessary ThurayaIP upgrader file on the PC connected to the ThurayaIP terminal. The upgrader file can be downloaded from Thuraya website http://www.thuraya.com/thuraya-ip-upgrader. 7.
8. Public Static IP Address 8.1 What is Static IP? Static IP is a fixed IP address that is assigned to you whenever you connect to the network. If allotted, this never changes as against the dynamic IP address which changes every time you connect. 8.2 Do I need Static IP when Streaming in Thuraya IP? Not necessarily. However, for better results a Static IP is recommended for StreamingIP service. 8.
Public Static IP address can be deactivated based on subscriber request through service provider. 8.9 Why does a subscriber need a Public Static IP address? Public Static IP's addresses are useful to access the terminal from the internet - run services provided by the Customer e.g. Web Services, FTP services, video streaming, etc Another use might be where a user is trying to connect through a secure link to a company’s system where he is required to provide his Public IP.
9. VPN 9.1 A subscriber is having 5 remote construction sites & two offices in the capitals of two countries. He wants to interconnect all his remote sites with his city offices by using ThurayaIP with VPN technology. Can he do this? Customers can establish VPN sessions with their corporate headquarters using standard VPN clients. Microsoft VPN client is supported by the network. Other standard clients are also supported. PP2P and L2TP protocols have been tested successfully. 9.
10. Sales and Customer Support 10.1 How can we order the terminals? As normal procedure 10.2 What will be the delivery scheme of the terminals? Check with your Account Manager 10.3 What are the arrangements for ThurayaIP Customer service, after sales support, Technical Support? Service providers are trained to provide required support. Service provider Help Desk and Customer Service Centre are also available for support to Service providers and subscribers. 10.
