Inmarsat plc honoured for innovation at the Network Middle East Innovation Awards 2008

Inmarsat plc honoured for innovation at the Network Middle East Innovation Awards 2008
 
Inmarsat plc (LSE: ISAT), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, was presented the Most Innovative Use of New Technology award at the fourth annual Network Middle East  (NME) Innovation Awards 2008 in Dubai. The award was made for the ongoing development of Inmarsat’s aeronautical services – including the network infrastructure for pioneering “GSM in the sky” solutions and the launch of SwiftBroadband, a high-speed IP data service that provides in-flight connectivity for both cabin crew and passengers.
 
Organized by Network Middle East, the region’s leading business to business networking magazine, the NME Innovation Awards recognises the best in network projects, products and individuals from across the Middle East and honors excellence in networking. Samer Halawi, Vice President of Strategic Corporate Development at Inmarsat, said, "Inflight GSM services offer a range of benefits to passengers, such as the ability to make an urgent call to the office, access email on a Blackberry or PDA, or keep in touch with family and friends via SMS.  They also offer a potential revenue opportunity for airlines. In March this year, we were proud to carry the first commercial in-flight mobile phone call, made on an Emirates flight.  This award recognizes the exciting inflight applications that Inmarsat makes possible, and the innovative technology behind our SwiftBroadband service.” Halawi added, “It is not the first time that Inmarsat is honored for innovation in the Middle East. This award is a testimony yet again of the leading position that Inmarsat commands among the region’s telecoms industry as a provider of innovative new technologies. “
 
Launched commercially in October 2007 and based on Inmarsat’s award-winning BGAN service for land-based users, SwiftBroadband is a robust, flexible IP-based service designed to meet the air-to-ground communications needs of airlines, business aviation and governments, offering a wide choice of data services. It is the latest addition to Inmarsat's established and successful portfolio of aeronautical services and is capable of supporting broadband IP data at speeds up to 432kbps. SwiftBroadband provides in-flight connectivity for both cabin crew and passengers. It is also used to provide new passenger services including in-flight mobile phone use, PDA/email and wi-fi internet access.
 
The service is available through distribution partners MVS, OnAir, Stratos and Vizada, and their extensive re-seller networks. SwiftBroadband is initially available across the Middle East, Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia – and will be accessible worldwide, except the extreme Polar Regions, following the successful launch of the third Inmarsat-4 satellite, planned for this year.