Although satellite links have a reputation for being expensive, Inmarsat tariffs are already -significantly cheaper" than prices charged by hotels for broadband access, he said. Even so, -we're absolutely conscious of the need to drive down the price," said Denny. -It's only going to be successful if it appeals to a very wide user base."
The terminals for the new service -- to be launched in 2004 -- -will be more capable than anything we've got at the moment," as well as being lighter and cheaper than current devices, he added.
Inmarsat's existing 144kbps Regional Broadband Global Access Network (Regional BGAN) services are fully compatible with their terrestrial equivalents, said Denny. For example, it is possible to roam between GSM and Inmarsat services using a single SIM. Similarly, when the 432kbps service starts in early 2005, -as soon as you go outside the range of 3G, bingo, you use your satellite terminal," said Denny.
This service covers an area from parts of Iceland in the northeast to Sri Lanka in the southeast, and from Sierra Leone in the southwest to parts of Mongolia and central Russia in the northeast.
The company provides global coverage with its ISDN-style 64kbps circuit switched (charged by time) and GPRS-style GAN (Global Access Network) packet-switched (charged by volume) services. Third-party software will shortly be available to analyse actual usage to determine which would be the cheaper option.
The existing terminals are similar in size to a notebook computer, and are fitted with USB and serial interfaces for connection as if they are modems. They are also equipped with interfaces for use with ISDN handsets and videophones.
Customers include news and aid organisations (during the Afghanistan conflict, Inmarsat repositioned a satellite to meet the demand for capacity in that region), governments (eg, Australian coastal surveillance), airlines and shipping companies, and resources companies such as BP, Shell and Australian-based Bolnisi Gold. Inmarsat is also used as an alternative to GPRS by some vehicle tracking services. Other markets being targeted by the company include manufacturing, construction and insurance. Satellite services are particularly attractive in locations where conventional wired or wireless communications links are either unavailable, unreliable, or both.
Inmarsat was originally an international organisation (the International Maritime Satellite Organisation), but it became a privately owned U.K.-based business four years ago.
Stephen Withers travelled to Perth as the guest of Inmarsat.
