“Provision of communications infrastructure in remote locations is a constant challenge for the oil and gas industry”, Jean-Claude Bisenius, Managing Director of atrexx explains. “Oil and gas exploration teams and drilling rigs are often located in the most remote and hostile regions of the planet, meaning that more traditional means of communications cannot be rolled out without great expense or difficulty. For the oil and gas sector, the issue of secure communications is also a principal consideration. Satellite often provides the only solution to this problem.”

Stefan Tomek, IT Manager at VAOS explained:”The expectations of VAOS to operate a modern and secure corporate communications network via the Internet also presented increased requirements on IT security. For example, access to SAP business management software solutions and services from external locations and from site-to-site Virtual Private Networks (VPN) had to be possible.” Regarding the applications that the VPN should support, Mr. Tomek added:”VAOS was also looking for a reliable VoIP connection, centralized management out of Linz, Austria; and access to the Microsoft distributed systems at various locations.”

To ensure highly secure, reliable and error-free communications, VAOS selected atrexx to become a communications partner due to their ability to connect the company’s remote branch offices to the corporate network. The offices use a Virtual Private Network with Microsoft’s Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010, which guarantees a secure and reliable connection to all other branches via a satellite service provided by atrexx and iDirect’s iSCPC solution. Based on iSCPC, atrexx has developed a unique Quality of Service (QoS) that guarantees lower latency when using VoIP, despite many different types of traffic passing through the system that often operates on a small amount of bandwidth per link to the remote station in the desert.

Speaking of VAOS’ six-year partnership with atrexx, Stefan Tomek, concluded:”Thanks to the very high level of satellite knowledge, effort and support, atrexx has been and will be the right partner to realize our high demand IT solutions in the future!”

“The growing global appetite for natural resources is rapidly driving mining concerns into emerging markets,” said Martin Creamer, Publisher of Creamer Media and Editor of Mining Weekly. “The need for cost-effective communications to support remote operations has never been greater. This agreement aims to strengthen understanding of how satellite and other complementary communications tools are being used to address critical mining challenges.”

“From workforce development and safety to remote monitoring and logistics, there are an increasing number of mining applications being addressed by satellite-enabled network solutions,” said David Hartshorn, Secretary General of GVF. “Through this agreement, Creamer Media and GVF intend to heighten awareness of innovative approaches that are producing positive results in the mining sector.”

Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly publication and MiningWeekly.com, which receives 43,000 unique visitors per week, will begin co-ordinating with GVF on industry news, event information, and special reports that reveal the impact of communications trends on each stage of the mining project life cycle, both for the majors and for the juniors.

The company is responding to the upcoming situation in Middle East. atrexx’ 2way2sat services will be delivered via different satellite position. A wide beam coverage is guranteed from Europe covering full country of Yemen.The key to the 2way2sat services is the new iDirect Evolution platform. It includes the next generation X3 satellite routers, equipped with DVB-S2 standard. The Evolution X3 technology delivers up to 30% improved bandwidth efficiency compared to the DVB-S system. The additional use of Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) provides a gain of bandwidth efficiency of up to 50%. Both features allow for a range of IP applications, including Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony and videoconferencing. Applications such as corporate networks, point-of-sale, SCADA, telemetry and multimedia streaming are also supported with ease.The new VSAT technology is cost effective and provides optimized applications, even under difficult weather conditions at the uplink station in Europe.

For superior video qualityBGAN X-Stream is Inmarsat’s new premium IP streaming service. It guarantees streaming data rates from a minimum of 384kbps up to approximately 450kbps, on demand. These are the fastest on demand streaming rates in the world of mobile satellite communications.

Now, using a single, highly compact, lightweight BGAN terminal, you can deliver even higher quality video back to the studio when broadcasting remotely. There is no need for an external antenna or any additional hardware - just use your existing Hughes HNS 9201 or Thrane & Thrane EXPLORER^TM 700 terminal.

BGAN X-Stream will be accessible in EMEA from 20 April 2009 and globally from the end of June 2009. To access the service, contact your BGAN service provider or download the FAQs for more detailed information.

Commercial service on the new I-4 Americas satellite is currently expected to begin at approximately 09:00 UTC on 7 January 2009 from its in-orbit location at 98 degrees West.

Optimal data rates
The I-4 Americas spacecraft is positioned more directly over the region than the I-4 F2, the satellite currently serving the region. This makes it easier to point a BGAN terminal at the satellite and, coupled with a higher concentration of spot beams over the landmass, will provide optimised data rates.

Also, for the first time, network coverage will be extended to include parts of Western Canada and Alaska.

As part of the process, BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband traffic will be transferred from the I-4 F2 to the I-4 Americas satellite, starting at approximately 08:00 UTC on 7 January. This will require a short outage, which is currently expected to last for about one hour.

Re-point terminals
At the end of the outage, BGAN users in the region will need to re-point their terminals from the I-4 F2 satellite at 53 degrees West to the I-4 Americas satellite at 98 degrees West. The latest version of BGAN LaunchPad, available for download from the Inmarsat website, provides coverage maps designed to help end-users re-point their antennas.

Following the scheduled entry into commercial service of the I-4 Americas satellite on 7 January, Inmarsat subsequently needs to reposition its two I-4 sister satellites in order to optimise the network and prepare for the introduction of global coverage, currently planned for 24 February.

While Inmarsat is making every effort to minimise any impact on customers, the repositioning process will require two service outages in January and February affecting a small number of broadband and satellite phone service users in two limited geographical areas.

The planned schedule of outages is as follows:

I-4 F2: 7 January - 2 February 2009

• BGAN - in Iceland, Ireland and parts of West Africa, the UK and Greenland
• FleetBroadband - in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean
• SwiftBroadband - in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean.

I-4 F1: 6 - 24 February 2009

Service outage in parts of Asia-Pacific for:

• BGAN
• FleetBroadband
• SwiftBroadband, and
• IsatPhone, LandPhone, and FleetPhone.

Inmarsat plans to introduce full global broadband coverage at the end of the repositioning process, currently scheduled for 24 February 2009.

In addition, starting at approximately 08:00 UTC on 7 January, as part of the network optimisation, Inmarsat will be transferring non-broadband services in the Atlantic Ocean Region West (AOR-W) - including Inmarsat C and Mini C, Inmarsat B, Fleet 33, 55 and 77, GAN, Mini M, Swift 64 and Classic Aero - from the Inmarsat-4 F2 to the Inmarsat-3 F4 satellite, also located at 53 degrees West. There will be an outage of approximately one hour while the transfer is made.

All other services, including Inmarsat maritime safety services, remain unaffected by the repositioning process.

More information about the repositioning, including coverage maps and new versions of LaunchPad, can be found on the Inmarsat website under Support > Coverage.

An elite US response unit has ordered the first units of a new rugged BGAN terminal designed specifically for military use, with integrated Type 1 encryption.

The US Air Force’s 36th Contingency Response Group has ordered the new AN/PSC-14 terminal, which was developed by Inmarsat partner ViaSat.

The AN/PSC-14 combines Inmarsat IP-based BGAN technology with ViaSat AltaSec IP inline encryption equipment to create a portable, ruggedised BGAN terminal capable of both secure and non-secure operation.

Standard rucksack The terminal, described by ViaSat as a tactical “manpack”, fits into a standard military rucksack, uses standard military batteries and is compatible with current military handsets.

An additional special feature is the ability to locate the antenna several hundred feet from the terminal.

Military vehicles Coupled with a separate tracking antenna, the terminal can also fit into a standard mounting on military vehicles to provide communications-on-the move.

Doug Poorman, ViaSat’s AN/PSC-14 programme manager, said: “The PSC-14 has unique features that you won’t find on standard commercial terminals, which give it significantly increased military utility.

Tactical communications “Its ruggedness gives it a level of military reliability that war-fighters need for tactical communications.”

The 36th Contingency Response Group, located at Andersen Air Force base in Guam in the western Pacific, organises, equips and leads cross-functional forces. Its mission is to be ‘first-in’ to secure locations such as an airfield, and to establish and maintain ongoing operations.

Customers using Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services will benefit from the wide range of value-added services that ensure optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. The most notable advantage is the dashboard, which enables customers to manage their usage of Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services by providing real-time information on voice and data traffic used, with associated costs.

The Dashboard further enhances the user experience of these new phone services by providing fast provisioning, as well as rebilling and reporting options to minimize unexpected invoices and potential financial risk. The Stratos Dashboard supports both postpaid and prepaid rate-plan options.

The Dashboard is used by all Stratos partners who deploy the Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) worldwide. The Dashboard is also expected to be widely used worldwide by customers who will be deploying Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services.

Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services offer a competitive alternative to the handheld, fixed and maritime solutions now available in the marketplace. The services offer high-quality voice and data (2.4 kbps) connectivity via small, affordable equipment.

The IsatPhone is a handheld mobile phone that is ideal for users who include business travelers and government officials. The retail price of the IsatPhone terminal is US$499. End-user airtime charges for all Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services are less than US$1 per minute, with attractive discounts available to Stratos partners. Postpaid packages are available now and Inmarsat expects to announce prepaid packages early next month.

The LandPhone is a low-cost, easy-to-use fixed telephony system that is ideal for remote locations where local networks are unreliable or non-existent. The FleetPhone is a fixed maritime terminal that offers voice services only and is ideal for all maritime applications. The FleetPhone is expected to be commercially available later this month.

Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services are now available in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, to both land and maritime customers. Service in these regions is made possible by Inmarsat’s latest-generation I-4 satellite. Full global coverage is expected by the end of 2008, commencing with the launch of Inmarsat’s F3 satellite.

BGAN

Renting an BGAN terminal is a cost-effective way for those that need the equipment only for a limited time. The standard BGAN Rental Kit is available from atrexx for only $5.90 per day.

Broadband Global Access Network offers reliable, secure data access over Inmarsat satellites in a cost-effective way: Subscribers only pay for the traffic volume - not for the time spent online. BGAN is the ideal broadband solution for employees and government personnel on the move as well as for world travelers that need to be sure of a secure and reliable access to the Internet and to corporate networks in remote regions.

Renting an BGAN terminal is a cost-effective way for those that need the equipment only for a limited time. The standard BGAN Rental Kit is available from atrexx for only $5.90 per day. This includes the subscription fee to the service. In addition, prepaid Credit Vouchers cover usage charges.

BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) marks a quantum leap in mobile satellite services. BGAN is the first mobile satellite service integrating voice and broadband data and featuring global accessibility. BGAN delivers broadband data and voice, through a portable device, anywhere on the planet.

The contract delivery is planned to take place over the next two fiscal years. Installation of equipment is planned to be completed during this financial year ending 30 April 2008, whereas integration and testing is scheduled for the following financial year.

Thrane & Thrane has worked with Inmarsat since 2001 to design, manufacture and install the BGAN Radio Network infrastructure with a total value for Thrane & Thrane over this period of more than DKK 500 million.

This new contract is a major leap forward in providing global BGAN coverage. Global coverage, including ocean regions, is especially important for large merchant vessels and aircraft, who will be able to access BGAN capabilities with the coming introduction of FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband services.

“This is yet another result of the co-operation between Inmarsat and Thrane & Thrane,” says Torben Lund, BGAN RAN R&D Manager. “Thrane & Thrane has succeeded in delivering a very reliable and flexible platform for the BGAN Radio Network on which we have added several new enhancements and feature to support the rapidly growing BGAN business.”

The design, development, manufacturing and installation of satellite access stations has been a Thrane & Thrane key business area since 1990. As the leading player in the field, the company delivers high quality turnkey solutions including terrestrial network interfacing, large disc antennas, RF equipment and access control and signaling equipment. Thrane & Thrane leads the market in satellite systems technology and service and has installed over 150 Inmarsat Land Earth Stations all over the world to date.

However, Inmarsat’s option to launch the satellite on an Atlas launch vehicle in 2009 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, remains in place and will now be regarded as a backup capability.

Voice and broadband

The Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellites are among the largest and most sophisticated commercial communication satellites ever built, and are capable of delivering advanced voice and broadband data communications to mobile users.

Three Inmarsat-4 satellites were built for Inmarsat by EADS Astrium. The first in the series, I-4 F1, was launched in March 2005, and has an orbital slot over the Indian Ocean at 64 degrees east. The second, I-4 F2, was launched in November 2005, and provides coverage for the Americas from an orbital slot at 154 degrees west.

The I-4 F3 was a ground spare for the two launches in 2005, but its launch and orbital position will extend the Inmarsat-4 constellation and support the global delivery of Inmarsat’s latest services.

Global coverage

Andrew Sukawaty, CEO and chairman of Inmarsat, said: "Our agreement with ILS has enabled us to accelerate our launch plans for the I-4 F3.

"The third satellite will provide global coverage for our existing BGAN service and will benefit our new broadband maritime and aeronautical services as well as our global satellite phone service.

"This will provide incremental opportunities for growth in our maritime and aeronautical markets."