Stratos Announces Commercial Availability of Next-generation BGAN Mobile Satellite Service
- BGAN is the first platform to deliver simultaneous voice and broadband data connectivity for remote communications, emergency response, and backup using lightweight, high-speed portable devices -
BETHESDA, MD, Dec. 7 / -- Stratos Global Corp. (TSX: SGB), the world's leading provider of Inmarsat mobile satellite services, today announced it has begun offering Inmarsat BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Coverage is scheduled to be extended to North and South America in the second quarter of 2006.
As the leading global provider of Inmarsat services, Stratos combines around-the-clock global support, an unrivaled terrestrial backbone network, and sophisticated online account management tools to meet the needs of professionals in the media, military, government, aid, energy, engineering, and construction markets - the primary target customers for BGAN.
In addition, in early 2006, Stratos expects to further expand its geographic presence and customer base with the acquisition of Netherlands- based Xantic B.V., another leading provider of Inmarsat services. The combination of Stratos' market-leading presence in the government, military, energy and leasing sectors, combined with Xantic's position as the number one provider to the maritime and carrier sectors, will give the combined business an unmatched presence in the key markets for mobile satellite services, including BGAN.
"Today's service introduction is a significant milestone for Stratos, Inmarsat, and the entire mobile satellite industry," said Jim Parm, Stratos' president and chief executive officer. "With our proven expertise as the market leader, as well as the added scale and global presence that will come with our pending acquisition of Xantic, I am confident that Stratos is best qualified to bring the power of BGAN to everyone who needs dependable, secure broadband data and voice access in remote locations or in emergency response situations when traditional networks are unavailable."
Using compact, lightweight satellite terminals about the size of small laptop PCs, BGAN offers IP data speeds of up to 492 kbps, with the option of guaranteed data rates up to 256 kbps. The service is designed for mobile users who need dependable, secure broadband access in locations with an unreliable or non-existent telecommunications infrastructure.
A fully functional BGAN broadband mobile office can be set up and shut down in minutes, without special technical expertise. The smallest BGAN terminal weighs less than one kilo and full-featured terminals provide both streaming IP and background IP data options, as well as WLAN capability for multi-user access.
About Stratos
Stratos Global Corporation (www.stratosglobal.com) is a publicly traded company (TSX: SGB) and the leading global provider of a wide range of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions for users operating beyond the reach of traditional networks. With its owned-and-operated infrastructure and extensive portfolio of industry-leading satellite and microwave technologies (including Inmarsat, Iridium, Globalstar, MSAT, VSAT, and others), Stratos serves the voice and high-speed data connectivity requirements of a diverse array of markets, including government, military, energy, industrial, maritime, aeronautical, enterprise, media and recreational users throughout the world.
Source: Stratos Global Corporation
CONTACT: Doug Gunster, Communications Manager, (301) 968-1954, doug.gunster@stratosglobal.com
