Inmarsat plc is an international telecommunications company originally operating as an intergovernmental organization. It provides telephony and data services to users worldwide, via special terminals which communicate to ground stations through twelve geosynchronous telecommunications satellites. Inmarsat network provides reliable communications services to a range of governments, aid agencies, media outlets and businesses with a need to communicate in remote regions or where there is no reliable terrestrial network.
The company was originally founded in 1979 as the International Maritime Satellite Organization (Inmarsat), a not-for-profit international organization, set up at the behest of the IMO a United Nations body, for the purpose of establishing a satellite communications network for the maritime community. It began trading in 1982. From the beginning, the acronym "Inmarsat" was used. Inmarsat is the world's leading provider of global mobile satellite communications. We provide voice and high-speed data services to almost anywhere on the planet - on land, at sea and in the air.
Services
The services are delivered through the most versatile and reliable satellite network in the world. Inmarsat operates 11 satellites in geostationary orbit 35,786km above the Earth, controlled from the HQ in London via ground stations located around the globe.
BGAN
The Broadband Global Area Network service - BGAN - offers global voice and high-speed data connectivity to our land-based customers, through terminals which are about the size of a laptop. BGAN is accessible via small, lightweight satellite terminals, providing performance options to suit different operational needs. Standard terminals are highly portable and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Vehicular systems comprise an interior terminal and a discreet tracking antenna, which is mounted on the vehicle roof.
BGAN Coverage
The Inmarsat BGAN service is now available around the globe, delivered through our global network of three I-4 satellites.The map above depicts the three I-4 satellite coverage regions. Any BGAN terminal will operate in any country within the coverage areas, and they may connect to any of the three BGAN satellites without re-configuring software, or changing service plans (ideal for world travelers).
BGAN, the broadband mobile office
With a BGAN service, you can set up a broadband mobile office in minutes from anywhere in the world. You benefit from simultaneous voice and high speed data in areas with limited access to fixed-line or GSM networks.
ADVANTAGES:
Global Coverage: BGAN delivers seamless network coverage across most of the world's landmass. BGAN is currently accessible in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America.
Simultaneous voice and broadband data: With a single BGAN device, users can access data applications at broadband speeds and make phone calls at the same time.
Flexible: There are BGAN terminals for single users and small teams, which can be connected to a laptop PC via a wired or wireless connection.
Easy to use: No specialist technical expertise is required to set up or use the service. The same device can be used worldwide and the user interface is standard across all terminals
BGAN Features
High-speed wireless IP data (up to 492 kbps) and circuit-switched network
Streaming IP data rates up to 256 kbps on demand, which is a significant benefit if you need guaranteed, uninterrupted throughput, without contended service degradation.
An extensive range of small, light-weight terminals with convenient accessories
BGAN Launchpad software provides a standard user interface across all BGAN terminals. The Launch Pad enables you to control your connection type, access utilities and take advantage of unique value-added services.
Familiar GAN-standard 64 kbps ISDN, Fax and 4.8 kbps voice to fixed, mobile and any other MSS
Data and voice can be used simultaneously just like in the office
Support for supplementary services, e.g., call hold, call waiting and voicemail
SMS text messages can be sent and received for business and private use
Worldwide coverage
Customers for BGAN are :
Humanitarian and Disaster relief : First Responders need the ability to communicate immediately upon responding to an incident; be it a natural disaster, act of terrorism, wildfire, or some other major event. BGAN provides that capability, even when traditional communications systems are not operational in the critical hours before a mobile comm center arrives on site. Lightweight and portable, the BGAN unit can be rapidly deployed anywhere, no matter the location or circumstance.
Broadcast Media: Journalists need to travel light, but they also need the capability to break big stories from remote locations. BGAN provides the answer. With streaming data capability up to 256 kbps, be the first with breaking news, and keep one step ahead of the competition.
Governments and NGOs: Government entities and NGOs require the ability to send and receive vital information from the field, especially when they are operating in dangerous and highly volatile locations. In cases where information flow is critical, this is not just a matter of efficiency or convenience, it can mean the difference between success or disaster. Reliable access to e-mail, the Internet and the corporate LAN is critical when time is of the essence.
Finance: Banks and other financial institutions operating in countries where the existing communications infrastructure is unreliable are in a precarious position. Using BGAN as a 99-percent reliable backup solution to terrestrial systems provides peace of mind and the confidence that data will not be interrupted or delayed, and opportunities for fraud and abuse will be lessened.
Education: For those living and working in remote regions, access to education can be a hit-and-miss affair, as can data gathering and analysis for those undertaking research in distant lands. With BGAN, learning is no longer the preserve of the lucky few, and educational institutions can share their research and work closely with their own and partner universities back home—not only spreading knowledge, but saving money at the same time.
Oil and Energy: The first step in undertaking a large-scale exploration program or other project is the initial onsite evaluation. With BGAN, basic data can be sent and received between the remote site and headquarters, analyzed and evaluated, saving both time and great expense.
Tourism: With digital cameras and instant communications, travelers today don’t expect to have to wait until they return home from a trip to share pictures with friends and family. BGAN lets them e-mail pictures home so their experiences can be shared as they happen. BGAN can also serve as an important safety and security tool for tourists, ensuring they have a go-anywhere communications system in the case of an emergency—an added value that can be a critical factor when deciding on a travel vendor.
ISATPHONE PRO
The new “IsatPhone Pro”, will be available in June 2010. Is a robust handset that is easy to use, has long battery life, and offers a reliable global network connection. It will offer satellite telephony, with Bluetooth for handsfree use, voicemail, text and email messaging. Location data will also be available to the user to look up or send in a text message. IsatPhone Pro is targeted primarily at professional users in the government, media, aid, oil and gas, mining and construction sectors.IsatPhone Pro is the first Inmarsat handheld to be purpose built for its network. Optimized to deliver the best performance from the world’s most advanced mobile satellite network, it will be available on a global basis over the three Inmarsat4 satellites, which have an operational lifetime into the 2020s.
ISATPHONE PRO Coverage
For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com
