Portable Reliable High-Speed
     IP Connectivity
                       - At Any Time

In today’s global era, being mobile is an asset; and staying connected is a necessity. The groundbreaking Regional BGAN is the one common response to those needs.
The Regional BGAN is a compact portable lightweight (1.6 kg) machine used to connect users to the Internet via satellite. Its purpose is to provide Internet access even from the most remote areas. It is a 2-way high-speed Internet satellite Protocol (IP) data service. Regional BGAN is an ideal solution for business travelers, who need to keep in touch with their clients and colleagues. In fact, any industry that needs highly dependable communications can make use of the Regional BGAN service. These can include sectors as diverse as manufacturing, finance, agriculture, education, the services sector as well as tourism that can all benefit from the lower costs and higher speeds that the Regional BGAN service can provide.

Other than email and browsing, the Regional BGAN is also suitable for instant messaging, video streaming, e-commerce and transferring or sharing of all kinds of data files with colleagues and clients. Whether traveling outside the developed world or simply outside an urban area, the product does not rely on any existing telephone or communication networks; however it allows you to connect independently and securely to both the Internet and corporate computer networks in a few simple steps.
Regional BGAN is currently the fastest commercial portable wireless data service available.

Seamless access to applications
Regional BGAN is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98, Millennium Edition (ME), 2000, XP, NT and Mac OS 10.1. It also provides remote LAN and intranet access, and enables dedicated, secure links to be set up over a virtual private network (VPN).

It is also suitable for FTP, instant messaging, video streaming, e-commerce and transferring or sharing all kinds of data files with colleagues or clients.

Twice the speed of GPRS
The connectivity offered by Regional BGAN runs at more than twice the speed of current terrestrial GPRS mobile phone networks. The satellite footprint covers more than 99 countries stretching from western Europe and the northern half of Africa, across central and eastern Europe, the southern CIS countries, to the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent.

Avoids the need for a fixed line network
Regional BGAN is a high-speed Internet Protocol (IP) data service providing fast, reliable access to the Internet and corporate computer networks, even where the local telecom infrastructure is either poor, non-existent or expensive.

Easy to set up
The service is based around a lightweight satellite IP modem the size of a notebook PC. Weighing only 1.6Kg, the modem is fully portable and easy to use when and where you need it. The modem can be used with a single PC or connected to a local area network (LAN) through which it can be accessed by multiple devices. What's more, connections can be made using USB, Ethernet or Bluetooth technology.

Cost-effective packet data system
Another major benefit of Regional BGAN is its cost effectiveness. Connection to the Internet or a private network can be kept 'always on', and you only pay for the amount of data you send or receive, rather than the time spent online - making it an extremely effective business tool.

Connection compatibility
The Regional BGAN satellite IP modem can be connected using USB, Ethernet or Bluetooth technology. The USB interface is a standard protocol for many computer peripheral devices. Ethernet is a local area networking method widely used throughout the IT industry, and Bluetooth is a wireless technology interface method that is used with modems, handheld PDAs, PCs and mobile phones.

Product illustration

  1. Integral antenna
  2. Compass
  3. SIM card
  4. Battery
  5. External power
  6. USB
  7. Indicators
  8. Ethernet

Control panel

  1. Power control button
  2. Interface control button
  3. Power indicator
  4. USB indicator
  5. Ethernet indicator
  6. Bluetooth indicator
  7. Battery indicator

 

Inmarsat Regional BGAN has a wide variety of uses. The following market insights show just how businesses in different regions could benefit from the service. Click on the links to download the PDF insights.

Internet Connectivity with Regional BGAN

Connecting a network to the Internet
You can use Regional BGAN to provide a fast internet connection to a state-of-the-art network of PCs and laptops in just minutes. Whether this is a rapid-deployment or more permanent data-heavy office, all users have full access to the Internet, as well as to the applications and data held on the server, through the hub.

Connecting a single user to the Internet
The Regional BGAN provides the perfect connection for the remote user, connecting them to both the Internet and Head Office - allowing them to share applications and data held on the server, or even use the printer, on the Head Office network.

Coverage and Service Levels

Inmarsat's satellite technology provides a fast, efficient connection, allowing you to download 50K files, e-mail or attachments in about 10 seconds.

Advanced spot-beam technology allows Inmarsat to maintain a footprint stretching across 99 countries from Western Europe and the northern half of Africa, across central and Eastern Europe, the southern CIS countries, to the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent.

The maximum bandwidth within each spot-beam is 144kbit/s. But because Regional BGAN is a packet data network, the average bandwidth available is shared among several connected users if they transmit data at the same time.

The Regional BGAN system allocates this capacity where needed - invisibly to the end-user. Based on Inmarsat's forecast of traffic and capacity, over a three-minute period we estimate users will consistently experience transfer rates equivalent to more than double those offered by current terrestrial GPRS services.

Costs and future proofing

How much does Regional BGAN cost?
The satellite IP modem costs about the same as a notebook PC, with costs for transmissions in line with GPRS roaming tariffs.

Hardware Unit Cost is: $ 1,750
One Time Set Up Fee: $ 100
Monthly Fees: $ 50
Airtime/MB: $ 12
(There is a refundable security deposit of $ 1,000 to cover airtime up to 2 months or 75MB)

Is it future proofed?
Regional BGAN equipment is 'future proofed' with a planned service until 2007 and a clear migration path to Inmarsat's next-generation broadband services.

List of applications

The Regional BGAN satellite IP modem is compatible with all the applications below. At Inmarsat we are committed to adding more applications to this list as the Regional BGAN service develops further.

Popular applications

E-mail  
     SMTP / POP3 Outlook Express, Eudora or similar
     IMAP4 / SMTP MS Outlook, Outlook Express or similar
Browser Services  
     HTTP Selected Websites IE, Netscape
     HTTP WebMail Hotmail, Yahoo
Instant Messaging  
     Text Conferencing Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger
     Presence Alertness / Notification / UMS / SMS Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Telemessage.com, GPRS/GSM Chat
Video, audio and text streaming RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, Live TX, Teveo / Creative webcam
FAX over IP / E-fax Ricoh, Panasonic, Jfax
Secure Access  
     VPN (pptp / Ipsec) - Intranet, drive access, database synchronisation IE, Netscape, Windows, Checkpoint
     SSL - Online transactions / basic secure access IE, Netscape
Image transfer Teveo, Webcam software, any IP enabled digital camera software

Explanation of terms

E-mail
The most widely used application on the internet. Ability to exchange information, office documents, spreadsheets, graphics etc with individuals and groups with a record of information sent and received.

Instant Messaging
Send and receive text-based messages in real time to individuals and groups. Ability to notify colleagues of your presence and location. Short message service also available.

Video, audio and text streaming
Receive and playback of streamed video, audio and text. Predominantly used for short to medium transmissions and broadcasts, such as online radio, Real Player video and stock market prices.

Fax over IP
Send and receive facsimile messages via your PC and IP-enabled fax machines.

Secure access
Full secure access to internet and corporate networks using fully encoded and encryption methods.

Image transfer
Send graphics and images over the Internet.

Operating Systems and devices

PC Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 98
Mac Mac OS 10.1*
Unix Linux
PDAs Pocket PC, Palm OS*, Symbian*
Routers/hubs Cisco, SMC, Netgear
Network cameras Axis, Logitech
PC Linux*

* These systems are compatible if: 1) the antenna is manually pointed; 2) the system supports Java 1.4; 3) if link is established indirectly via routers.

Technical and Network solutions

Peer-to-Peer Networking  
     Shared Drive access, online service internet/intranet Commercially 'Off the Shelf' Routers, Windows Networking
     Netbios, TCP/IP, Printer-sharing HP, IP printing
FTP  
     PUT WFTP, cuteFTP or similar
     GET Microsoft Windows FTP
PIM (Personal Information Management), PDAs  
     Calendar / Schedules Synchrologic, XTND
     Contacts / E-mail - Lite Cartesia (Palm Pilot)
Security  
     Firewall Configuration ZoneAlarm
     Virus Control Mcafee
     Network Access Management Netnanny
     See also Secure Access in Popular Applications  
Voice over IP* Yahoo Messenger

* Subject to national regulations.

Explanation of terms

Peer to peer networking
Internet and intranet connection with colleagues with no corporate network infrastructure.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
Ability to send large files over the Internet, generally to an IP address with secure access or password protected. Ability to use a range of sophisticated features, from off-the-shelf FTP solutions such as crash recovery.

Web browsing
Full access to the World-Wide Web using Explorer and Netscape, with full range functionality including e-commerce and e-mail accounts, such as Hotmail and Yahoo, financial resources, online libraries etc.

PIM
Connect with Personal Information Management systems and PDAs, with full diary and calendar management and e-mail capabilities.

Security
Full range of security applications, including Firewall, network access management, and anti-virus control.

Basic internet-quality Voice over IP*
Two-way voice communications in real time with colleagues and individuals over the Internet, for example, via Yahoo.

* Subject to national regulations.

Regional BGAN Specifications:

Below are the technical specifications of Regional BGAN satellite IP modem. This lightweight piece of kit is both robust and portable and can be connected to your computer using USB, Ethernet or Bluetooth interfaces.

Weight:
 
1.6 - 1.8 Kg (3.3lbs - 3.9lbs)
 
Size:
 
300mm x 240mm x 40mm (11.8" x 9.4" x 1.6")
 
SIM card:
 
Yes
 
Operating temperature:
 
-10°C to +55°C (14°F to 131°F)
 
Operating humidity:
 
95% RH at 40°C
 
Input Voltage:
 
7.2 to 8.4 Vdc
 
Mechanical Vibration:
 
200-2000 Hz, 0.3 m2/s3
 
Un-packaged drop:
 
0.5m on concrete
 
Solar radiation:
 
1120W/m2; MIL-SPEC 810E 505.3
 
Water and dust proofing:
 
IP-54 as standard, dust and spray proof in all directions
 
Air pressure for transport altitude:
 
4500 m AMSL; MIL-SPEC 810E METHOD 500.3
 
Battery Life:
 
24 hours standby time and 1 hour of continuous transmission at highest rate
 
Battery type:
 
Lithium-Ion
 
External Power:
 
Mains power supply adapter
 
Connectors:
 
USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth
 
User Interface:
 
Web page based graphical user interface accessible via standard web browser. Wizard set-up guide for sample start-up and set-up operations
 
External Antenna
Weight:
 
  • Antenna, including common mounting hardware:
    3.4kg
  • Floor mount kit:
    3.2kg
  • Wall mount kit:
    2.2kg
Size:
 
  • Antenna:
    670 x 380 x 62mm including mounting brackets.
  • Floor mount kit (assembled - overall dimensions):
    810 x 870 x 630(h)mm
  • Wall mount kit (overall dimensions):
    350 x 200 x 330mm
Operating temperature:
 
  • Operating: -50 to +55 degrees Celsius.
  • Storage: -50 to +80 degrees Celsius.
Humidity:
  • <95% relative humidity, non-condensing.
Altitude:
  • Operational range: 0 - 5000m above mean sea level.
  • Storage / transport range: 0 - 15000m above mean sea level.
Wind Loading:
  • Performance to specification: 80km/h in any direction;
  • No damage: 160km/h in any direction;
    when securely mounted using the supplied mounting kit.

Regional BGAN wins praise at World Communications Awards

Scoops 'Highly Commended' award in the Best New Service category. 10/10/2003

Inmarsat's Regional BGAN service scooped a 'Highly Commended' award in the Best New Service category at the recent World Communications Awards 2003.
Up against stiff competition from the likes of Vodafone, BT Retail and NTT Communications, Regional BGAN was short-listed from several hundred applications. The service was described by judges as "an exceptionally strong entry in this category".

Regional BGAN wins top award for banking technology

Inmarsat wins Network Infrastructure (Retail and Wholesale Banking) at the inaugural The Banker Technology Awards 03/06/2003

“Inmarsat won this award because of its innovative approach to delivering high-speed connectivity to financial institutions wherever they may be in the world,” said Parveen Bansal, The Banker’s Technology Editor. “The Inmarsat Regional BGAN service reduces the reliance on physical infrastructure and provides banks, financial services organisations and individuals, with reliable high-speed data links to even the most remote of villages or towns. It will fundamentally change the way many financial companies do business.”

For inquiries and to receive more information about Regional BGAN and how it can help in your business and operations, please contact:

Al Suroor Information Technology - SaudiTech®
Regional BGAN Authorized Service Provider
Tel: +966-3-8655596 (20 lines) Ext. 255
Fax: +966-3-8655584
Toll Free: 800-304 9000
P.O.Box 3382, Al-Khobar 31952 - Saudi Arabia
E-mail: info@pc2sat.com
URLs: www.alsuroor.com , www.asit-pc.com
www.asiit.com ,
www.sauditech.com

www.pc2sat.com