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INMARSAT's Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) is a completely new family of products and services operating at data rates up to 492 kbps. Using a lightweight satellite terminal, comparable to or smaller than the size of a laptop computer, BGAN will enable users to access email, corporate networks and the internet, transfer files, video conference, and make telephone calls, from nearly anywhere in the world. BGAN will operate using a new generation (I-4) of the most advanced communications satellites ever launched, the first of which launched successfully in March 2005. These INMARSAT I-4 satellites have 60 times the power and 16 times the capacity of the current I-3 satellite constellation, providing significantly enhanced performance and capability for users. The I-4 satellites will provide the BGAN service on 228 narrow spot beams while simultaneously providing the legacy services on 19 wide spot beams.

BGAN SERVICES:
The new I-4 satellites and BGAN User Terminals will provide a variety of data and voice services, through a several interface options. The services and interfaces vary by terminal type and manufacturer. All services are selectable by the user, on demand. A unique feature of the BGAN service is that, regardless of terminal, the switched services are available simultaneously with the IP data services on a separate satellite channel. Thus there is no degradation of the IP data service while in a voice or ISDN call. The following is a summary of the BGAN services which will be offered. The individual user terminal descriptions describe which services are available on each device.

Standard "Best Effort Class" IP Service is a variable bit rate, up to 492 kbps, always on service. This service is intended for web access, email, instant messaging, file transfer, and other similar applications. The applications best suited for this service are those that are tolerant of varying bit rates. The user will only pay for data transacted, not by time on the network.

Premium "Streaming Class" IP Service will provide a guaranteed full-duplex bit rate. User-selectable options are 32, 64, 128, or 256 kbps, and are available without any user coordination with the NOC. This service is targeted toward applications such as live video streaming, video conferencing, time-sensitive file transfers, etc. - basically, any application that requires a guarantee of performance. The user pays for this service by the minute.

All terminals will offer toll-quality voice as a separate channel that will operate simultaneously with the data channel. So, a user will be able to initiate a large file transfer and then make a phone call while the data transfer is taking place, without utilizing any of the data bandwidth. The voice service uses a completely independent channel.

Inmarsat BGAN Brochure

Coverage Area:
This coverage map depicts the planned coverage once the first two satellites are in service. The small circles or ovals are the individual spot beams that will provide the new BGAN service.

RED = 4F1 or IOR satellite
BLUE = 4F2 or AOR satellite
YELLOW = 4F3 or POR satellite

Schedule:

• March 11, 2005: 4F1 (IOR) launched successfully
• May 28, 2005, 20:00 UTC: All current services, except R-BGAN and A, transition to 4F1 (IOR)
• July 9, 2005 (tent.): R-BGAN transition to 4F1 begins
• 3Q2005: 4F2 (AOR) launch
• October 2005: BGAN beta test begins
• Nov/Dec 2005: BGAN service starts on 4F1
• 1Q2006: BGAN service starts on 4F2
• TBD 2008: 4F3 launch