Inmarsat, the leading provider of global satellite communications, announced yesterday the launch of its Broadband Global Area Network – BGAN – service. Delivered via the world’s largest and most sophisticated satellites, BGAN is the first mobile communications service to provide affordable voice and broadband data services simultaneously at speeds of up to half a megabit per second through highly portable and easy to use terminals. This state-of-the-art service, which covers all communications applications, will first be offered to the Middle East.
Inmarsat confirms its position as an industry leader with the addition of BGAN to its portfolio, taking mobile satellite communications to the next level. With Inmarsat’s BGAN service, users can set up a broadband mobile office in minutes – anywhere on the planet. Samer Halawi, Regional Director, Inmarsat Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, explains, “Launching the BGAN service in the Middle East first is a testimony to Inmarsat’s commitment to the region’s end-users. BGAN is highly welcome by our customers in this part of the world including media organizations, corporate executives and construction personnel who often need web or phone access in isolated areas.” Anyone who needs dependable, secure broadband access when traveling in locations with unreliable or no telecommunication networks will now be able to reap the benefits of mobile satellite communications.
Andrew Sukawaty, chairman and CEO of Inmarsat, said: “BGAN is a breakthrough in satellite communications, with no comparables, delivering the first global broadband mobile office for users anywhere in the world.” With the support of the powerful Inmarsat-4 satellites, Inmarsat can cover 85% of the world’s landmass, or 98% of the world’s population, making the land-based BGAN service virtually global.
BGAN provides users with an integrated solution for voice and broadband data by allowing for these services to be used simultaneously through a single compact and lightweight device at speeds of up to half a megabit per second. The voice channel is an important component, including direct dial voice service, simultaneous voice and IP data sessions, conference call ability, call waiting, and voice mail. The voice capability will also support Bluetooth headsets.
BGAN is accessible via a range of small terminals that have been designed for maximum portability. With the smallest terminal weighing less than a kilo, BGAN terminals are lightweight, compact and can be carried as easily as a laptop. Their user-friendly design requires no specialist technical knowledge for set up and use. Terminals can be connected quickly and easily to a laptop or multiple laptops via wired or wireless connections, including Bluetooth or WiFi. All terminals are robust enough to withstand challenging environments and extreme temperatures. The same device can be used worldwide and the user interface is standard across all terminals. There are four terminals that have been developed by different manufacturers offering a variety of performance options to suit different operational needs.
The launch of BGAN follows the recent launch of the second Inmarsat I-4 satellite. Together with the first I-4 satellite introduced in March earlier this year, the I-4 satellites are the largest and most sophisticated commercial satellites ever built and serve as switchboards in the sky for BGAN. Initially accessible in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, BGAN coverage is expected to be available in North and South America by mid 2006 empowering users with virtually global coverage.
For the last 25 years, Inmarsat’s services are relied upon by the world’s shipping, oil exploration, defense and aviation industries to service their communications needs. Inmarsat is also the communications channel of choice for the media when reporting from the world’s danger zones and for NGOs, government agencies and the United Nations when coordinating rescue efforts, such as for the recent earthquake in south Asia and Hurricane Katrina in southern USA.
BGAN will be available through select Distribution Partners and Service Providers in more than 180 countries. Visit the Inmarsat website for more information on Inmarsat’s enabling of Broadband for a Mobile Planet.
BGAN Services:
o Data:
Standard IP service allows users to: access their corporate network via secure VPN connection, to use email and other office applications, browse the internet and send large file attachments at speeds of up to 492 kbit/s
Streaming IP is for applications where quality of service is paramount – such as live video or video conferencing – BGAN’s streaming IP provides guaranteed data rates of 32, 64, 128, or 256 kbit/s on demand. Users have the flexibility to choose the data rate on a case-by-case basis, depending on the application.
BGAN also supports ISDN
o Phone:
BGAN allows users to make phone calls at the same time as accessing data applications
Users can use a standard desktop phone, a custom handset or a Bluetooth handset/headset depending on the BGAN terminal
Voicemail and other standard 3G mobile supplementary services are also available
o Text:
BGAN enables users to send and receive text messages – up to the standard 160 characters – to or from any mobile phone
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include: general economic and business conditions; changes in technology; timing or delay in signing, commencement, implementation and performance of programmes, or the delivery of products or services under them; structural change in the satellite industry; relationships with customers; competition; and ability to attract personnel. You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances.
About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. The company's services are delivered through a world-class network of leading telecom groups. The company is quoted on the London Stock Exchange, with the ticker symbol “ISAT”. For the year ended 31 December 2004, group revenue was $480.7 million, with operating profit of $159.1 million. More information can be found at http://www.inmarsat.com/.
