Category: Blog

Sending video updates to the expedition website, Impossible2Possible Expedition Bolivia used Inmarsat’s BGAN Service to broadcast live chemistry experiments to schools across North America during a run across the Salar de Uyni salt flats in the Bolivian Andes. The Salar de Uyni salt flats are the largest salt flats in the world. During the 7 day expedition the students ran 200km (124 miles), crossing the massive 4,085 square miles of the salt flats. Expedition Boliviais the fourth adventure run by the Impossible2Possible Experiential Learning Program, known for providing online educational support to schools around the world.

Dubbed “youth Ambassadors’, Ray Zahab, the program founder, invited five students to run across the salt flats at altitudes of up to 4,572 meters (15,000 ft). The students were joined by Dr. George Agnes, a chemistry professor from Simon Fraser University in California and Dr Greg Wells, an expert in human physiology from Toronto. In celebration of the International Year of Chemistry, the scientists conducted live experiments designed to explain the natural elements of Salar de Uyuni – including the properties of salt and the effect of high altitude on the human body. Using BGAN X-Stream to stream live video, the GUARANTEED data rates from 384 up to 450kbps provided the speeds necessary to share the experiments with thousands of students in real time.

“BGAN has provided us with exceptional broadband connectivity in the harsh Siberian wilderness, the Tunisian desert and now the remote Andes,” said Zahab. I’m continually impressed by the system’s durability and reliability, which has helped us bring our message of education, inspiration and empowerment to millions worldwide.”

During the expedition Inmarsat also provided a range of value-added services including its BGAN Dashboard to monitor and control airtime usage, and GPS tracking to follow the expedition and ensure their safety

Intentions for new and enhanced products and services

BGAN M2M service

Inmarsat is planning to launch a new BGAN machine to machine (M2M) platform and service consisting of new user terminals that can access the BGAN M2M services and new pricing.

The intent is to address more fully the market opportunity for users that require a low cost terminal specifically designed for data reporting / SCADA applications with unmanned functionality and reliability. BGAN M2M terminals will be based on either Class1 or 2 functionality and will be packet switched only. Service introduction for BGAN M2M with the HNS9502 is intended for February 2012.

IsatPhone Pro – personal alerting feature

Inmarsat is designing a personal alerting feature for IsatPhone Pro. For the consumer market, this functionality is for peace of mind; for the corporate market, demand is driven by duty of care by employers, and in some instances, it is a legal requirement that lone workers in remote areas have a means of contact. The personal alert feature is incorporated into the IsatPhone Pro man machine interface menu structure. As with most alerting features, it is a two step procedure, i.e. on activating the alert, the handset would query and then the user would confirm the action.

This new feature is intended for release by December 2011.

Multi-voice on FleetBroadband

The multi-voice service will be offered by Inmarsat to fulfill the strong market demand for additional voice lines on FleetBroadband, especially for segregation of bridge communication from other operational or crew calling facilities. This enhanced voice service now allows up to 9 voice calls supporting the standard range of supplementary services offered for existing telephony voice service. In particular, each additional call will be allocated a unique number and be fully interoperable with short code dialling and pre-paid platforms.

The Inmarsat multi-voice service will be enabled across existing and new FleetBroadband terminals subject to implementation by the manufacturer (Thrane confirmed that they will do it). Existing terminals will require either a firmware upgrade or an external multi-voice PBX to support the service. On the network ground infrastructure, the BGAN platform is being upgraded with packetized voice infrastructure and new billing subsystem capabilities to offer this service enhancement.

This capability will be offered as two options during SIM activation, a standard multi-voice option providing four voice lines and an enhanced multi-voice option providing 9 voice lines. The enhanced multi-voice option is available for FleetBroadband users with a FleetBroadband 250 or a FleetBroadband 500 terminal.

The multi-voice service is intended to become available from April 2012.

Dynamic telemetry service (DTS) for FleetBroadband

Inmarsat is developing a new dynamic telemetry service (DTS) data reporting service for FleetBroadband in response to maritime requirements. The FleetBroadband DTS service will enable a range of services from position reporting to engine monitoring as well as many other applications. The FleetBroadband DTS service represents a step change in data polling capabilities from Inmarsat C or Isat Data Pro services. The roll-out of FleetBroadband DTS services will require a firmware upgrade for existing FleetBroadband terminals that will be made available by FleetBroadband manufacturers.

Inmarsat intends service availability in early 2012 with selected hardware manufacturers. We are currently evaluating this service and when/if we will be supporting it.

The award-winning Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) provides simultaneous voice and data globally. The network offers a range of guaranteed and on-demand IP streaming rates. The BGAN service is particularly useful for people working in areas with little or no terrestrial connectivity. Such people include live broadcast media, scientists looking for mineral deposits, and utility companies.

The Hughes 9201-M2M satellite IP terminal is a single-box, SCADA-ready, machine-to-machine terminal designed for use with BGAN services. Several features make the Hughes 9201-M2M ideal for use by the oil, gas, water, and utility industries. The terminal is easily packaged for continuous monitoring and control of remote sites, including well automation, pipeline monitoring, and utility SmartGrid such as SmartMeter backhaul, distribution automation, and substation SCADA. Additionally, the device provides immediate connectivity, is built to operate in extreme weather conditions. Additionally, because it is compact and versatile, the Hughes 9201-M2M is a highly secure and cost-effective solution for a wide range of sites handling kilobytes, megabytes, or gigabytes of data.

The 9201-M2M facilitates end-to-end IP communications supporting TCP and UDP traffic with essential IP SCADA benefits and features. These include:

• Auto Context Activation, which automatically establishes a data context with the network for the user device connected to the Hughes 9201-M2M. The user device can set up the automatic context with either a static local IP address or a dynamic DHCP local IP address;
• Auto On/Auto Power Cycle, which permits the Hughes 9201-M2M to automatically restore power to itself and turn back on if the site loses power or experiences a power interruption;
• Point Once, which provides the installer with a quick and easy method of installing, pointing, and activating the terminal. This feature prevents the need for a laptop in the field;
• 24/7 Keep Alive Link Supervision, which is designed to enable the Hughes 9201-M2M to supervise and maintain the data connection. The supervision occurs even when inactivity occurs for over 12 hours so that the customer’s remote terminal unit does not have to facilitate the task;

The IP Watchdog, which monitors the health of the data connection and takes various steps to keep it active. The terminal will initiate a reboot command to get back online if the data connection goes down and nothing is able to re-establish the connection; and The internal battery backup, which is an optional feature for backup power should the power at the site fail.

These features make the Hughes 9201-M2M ideal for various oil, gas, and water applications. These applications include well data collection such as electronic flow management, pressure, and custody transfer data reading; remote monitoring and control of the compressor responsible for pushing high volumes of natural gas through the pipeline; and the transfer of critical and time-sensitive command and control instructions to downhole systems. Such features permit engineers to access sites remotely, without having to dispatch personnel, which preserves resources.

Additionally, the Hughes 9201-M2M is currently being adopted and deployed for a variety of utility solutions. These include:

• An advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) Smart Meter Backhaul, by which thousands of residential and business wireless smart meters send usage data back to a collector point;
• Distribution Automation, which permits the Hughes 9201-M2M to be deployed at utility poles to enable control of SmartGrid infrastructure such as reclosers, fault indicators, and capacitor banks;
• Substation Communications, which dramatically enhance communication link availability at a substation so that the Hughes 9201-M2M can operate as the backup when the primary line fails;
• Disaster-Preparedness or Business Continuity Solutions, which permit use of the Hughes 9201-M2M for critical communications during the recovery period immediately following a catastrophic event that interrupts utility services.

As one of the most exciting and dangerous competitions in the world, the Volvo Ocean Race has become a must-see for anyone who has a passion for sailing. Leg One of the 2011-12 race has commenced with six of the best sailing crews on the globe leaving Alicante, Spain with their eye aimed directly at Cape Town, South Africa. The nine month long race, made up of an equal number of legs, is figured to garner a viewership of 2 billion people, making this a high-stakes event for the crew, its sponsors, and the companies who provide the equipment that enable these boats to reach the limits of their potential. One of the most vital aspects of a teams success is taking advantage of leading communication technology. This has been an issue for sailors since the beginning, but now, with the help of Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband Marine Satellite Communications, these difficulties are becoming a thing of the past.

You could say that sailing is somewhat of a beautiful contradiction these days. Although its primary function: “propulsion of a boat using sails” is still the most integral part of the sport, the introduction of new methods, material and ideas to help increase speed, safety and efficiency of the crew has kept the sport at the cutting edge of technology. Not only are boats turning into F1 race-cars with regard to the advanced make-up and build, but also with analytics and communication. Top yachts can track their progress and make adjustments real-time using on-board systems that analyze every aspect.

The Volvo Ocean Race in particular demands the best from the crews competing and requires a boat that is outfitted with the most advanced technology to date, not the least of which is satellite communications. Luckily for the crews, FleetBroadband Marine Satellite Communications is giving them all the tools necessary to complete the race faster and safer than ever. Launched in 2007, FleetBroadband provides telephone and internet simultaneously through a highly compact antennae anywhere in the world. It is the first marine satellite services system to simultaneously provide voice and high speed data service to any body of water around the globe.

Delivered via the most advanced commercial communications satellites ever launched, Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband allows you to send and receive email with large file attachments, comfortably run complex data applications and make voice calls at the same time, more affordably than ever before. Regardless of the type of size of the vessel, FleetBroadband offers a compact solution that can easily be accommodated, providing the boat with optimal connectivity, no matter what the conditions, or where you are.The system is easy to install, allows immediate network integration, enables total flexibility, is cost-effective, and offers complete security.

Not only are your communications instantly upgraded, but fans can feel more connected to the race itself by being able to receive live videos, photos, and blogs in real-time. This interactive process will surely help the sport gain new audiences wherever internet access is available. Allowing those who would not have previously been able to view the race to watch the grand spectacle is a positive for everyone involved.

As the competitors round the Cape of Good Hope and continue pushing the limits of their sport, all while traversing the globe, they have a certain confidence in the factors that used to be unpredictable and inefficient. With proper maritime communication systems, our Volvo Ocean Race crews can feel safe and confident that they have the resources to do great things.

As our infrastructure continues to grow and new smart grids are introduced, utility companies are finding they have more options than ever before. The smart grid has the potential for revolutionizing the way we produce, as well as consume, electricity.

With these advancements, utility companies have a much better chance of successfully operating remote sites. In the past, the ability to implement proper remote sites has been issue for many companies due to the lack of technology. For the last century, utility companies have had to commit a great deal of manpower and time towards collecting data through traditional means, which made operating remote sites very difficult. As the new smart grid is implemented, efficiently run remote sites have started to become much more viable options.

But even though companies are able to take advantage of smart grids, some glaring issues still remain. With remote sites and large distances, the business of utilities has actually become more complicated in certain aspects, with communications being one of the major problem areas.

Fortunately for many companies looking to keep operations at peak levels, technology has already been developed which allows for seamless communications. The Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) was designed to allow companies to continue working efficiently, even when their sites of operation are widely dispersed or have little or no terrestrial connectivity.

BGAN is the worlds first simultaneous voice and high speed data (broadband) mobile satellite communications service available around the globe. It is portable, extremely user-friendly and allows for guaranteed data rates on demand.

Many of its terminals, such as the popular Hughes 9201-M2M satellite IP, are single box, and SCADA-ready. The terminal is simply packaged to enable continuous monitoring and control of remote sites, including well automation, pipeline monitoring, and utility SmartGrid such as SmartMeter backhaul, distribution automation, and substations SCADA. In addition, the device allows for instant connectivity, and has a tough exterior built for adverse weather conditions. Being compact and versatile, the terminals are a secure and cost-effective solution for handling large amounts of data. BGAN M2M is an ideal solution for remote site management.

As the global market place continues to evolve and become more competitive, it is vital to partner with companies that provide the best technology for your communication needs. With the help of BGAN, your company will be able to achieve its goals and thrive.

In what can be looked at as the ultimate vote of confidence for a particular product, the elite Australian search and rescue teams are now including the IsatPhone Pro handset in all of the survival packs that they issue to vessels in danger.

After an extensive trial run of various handset communication devices, where the Canberra based Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) employed exhaustive testing, they chose to go with Inmarsat’s IsatPhone Pro.

As the primary source of communications for vessels in danger, the IsatPhone Pro will be used in each of AMSA’s tier one AeroRescue Dornier aircraft.

Up to this point, AMSA has already supplied seven of the handsets in emergency packs for incidents involving stranded yachts. In these cases, the handset is dropped inside a metal capsule, along with a standard radio kit, food, water, and first aid supplies. The handsets have also been used in multiple instances involving motorists whose cars have broken down in the Australian outback.

One of the IsatPhone’s biggest supporters, Gary Stevens, the AMSA search and rescue training and resources officer, has been quick to acknowledge some to the handsets great features.

“The phones are loaded with 100 minutes of pre-paid talk time. The IsatPhone Pro is programmed with several RCC numbers and is the preferred means of communicating with us if there is an extended rescue time expected.”

“The phone is not locked, so survivors may call friends and family as well as the RCC.” Stevens also mentioned.

Along with these important factors, simple instructions are supplied with the phone, including how to employ the antenna and receive incoming calls, along with how to display the user’s GPS position. This user-friendly approach allows those in emergency situations to focus on getting rescued, rather than figuring out the intricacies of their communications device.

Seeing the efficiency of the device first hand, Mr. Stevens went on the say, “We feel this will become a permanent addition to our survival kits.”

Considering that Australia contains some of the most treacherous geography in the world, both on land and at sea, getting a vote of confidence from the leader of one of Australia’s best search and rescue teams is a sure sign that the IsatPhone Pro is unsurpassed in quality and demonstrated effectiveness.

Until recently, maritime communications have been quite basic. As technology has progressed, boat owners have finally been given the tools they need to feel confident and safe out on open water. Had it not been for cutting edge communication systems, specifically the Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro, an American family of seven whose boat was taking on water 50 miles from shore may have been in a really bad situation. Luckily for them, the disastrous implications of a capsizing vessel was not enough to put their lives at risk due to their choice in satellite communications.

Beginning like any other day, James Dutton gathered everyone on his 29-foot boat and shoved off in search of bountiful fishing. The only difference with this particular voyage was the inclusion of an IsatPhone Pro handheld device that his wife Misty purchased for the vessel just five days earlier at GMPS.

It was smooth sailing until the crew noticed the boat was taking on water as they began the journey back to shore. Being an experienced sailor, James Dutton made sure to release a SART search and rescue radar device, while grabbing a GPS device and his IsatPhone Pro.

Using the IsatPhone Pro, Inmarsat’s proprietary global satellite handheld phone, James was able to quickly call for help.

Having to jump overboard, the family was taking another risk by entering shark patrolled waters. In any other situation, James and his crew would be helpless, waiting to see if anyone would respond to his mayday, but with the IsatPhone Pro, Mr. Dutton got in immediate contact with his wife Misty, who was still on shore, and was able to talk to her on a clear quality line while she alerted help.

“I was panicked, of course,” Misty later said. “But I managed to get his co-ordinates from him and contacted the coast guard.”

In the end, James and the six others were brought to safety, knowing that it could have been very different if not for the IsatPhone Pro

Having the phone gave both parties piece of mind considering they were able to speak with each other for 30 minutes while they waited for rescue. Being able to convey that he was in fact able to see their eventual rescuers was surely a wonderful feeling for both Misty and James.

The next stage in unmanned IP data connectivity will be available soon with the release in February, 2012 of the Inmarsat BGAN M2M. A cost-effective alternative to saturated terrestrial cellular networks, this technology has been ideally made for the Utilities, Oil and Gas. Along with its ubiquitous coverage, the BGAN Satellite SCADA M2M allows for the following applications, among others:

• IP and non-IP SCADA
• Secure ATM/POS solutions
• Fixed Asset Monitoring
• Telemetry
• Surveillance

Inmarsat’s proprietary satellite communications technology will provide a global, IP-based low-data rate service for individuals and companies needing to accommodate permanently unmanned environments with high levels of data availability.

Custom suited for fixed assets such as pipelines and oil well heads, or backhauling electricity consumption data within a utility, BGAN M2M enables high frequency, low latency data reporting.

Considering BGAN Satellite SCADA M2M is a fixed Standard IP service, those who use the device can take advantage of data speeds in excess of 100kbps in both directions, while also allowing for the capability to transmit larger data grabs or interacting with remote devices on an IP session.

Along with the speed, you also have the ability to monitor your fixed operations wherever they are located due to Inmarsat’s award-winning I-4 satellite network, which is a collection of three satellites that cover all surfaces of the earth. Even with the cutting-edge technology, this product still comes with a simple plug-and-play terminal that allows for easy access.

Since the BGAN M2M is satellite based, with the availability of coverage being 99.9%, the connectivity will almost never be an issue for business-critical applications. While terrestrial or cellular tech can experience outages in severe weather or other extenuating circumstances, Inmarsat’s satellites are in a “geostationary” position, insulating them from the common communication issues felt by land based technology.

As for investing in this technology, hardware costs will be highly competitive, with transparent pricing packages normally based on monthly data usage, between 2 and 8mb, allowing for managers to have full visibility of costs.

The BGAN M2M offers ubiquitous machine-to-machine communications for increased operational efficiency, along with real-time visibility of operations and simple integration into your operations. For a more tangible look at the technology, be sure to go over the Land Service Comparison and the Land Applications and Services Information.

As we try to build the national Smart Grid in the most productive ways possible, one must think about all of the different types of technology without favoring one communications or networking technology above another. Taking into account its growing importance, satellite networking technology must play a decisive part in Smart Grid initiatives for the utility industry.

Satellite SCADA solutions deliver:

high availability

ubiquity

path diversity

The Supporters

The mobile satellite communications market is totally devoted to delivering an innovative category of Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications such as Satellite SCADA. A powerful smart grid depends on a strong network and remote communications infrastructure. This is significant for businesses to take into account whenever implementing their very own smart grid endeavors. It is not realistic to expect any one-size-fits-all communications solution to suit smart grid execution. By far the most practical strategy to satisfy this demand will be to take advantage of the wide array of transport technologies out there while counting on common open standards, like the aforementioned Internet Protocol (IP) standard, to incorporate into a individual overall network architecture. Although numerous types of broadband platforms might be employed, it is the businesses perception that the IP standard should be used for the end-to-end network layer should be used for the end-to-end network layer.

Satellite SCADA based services are an essential part of the multi-technology strategy demanded by the utility industry to obtain an end-to-end, smart grid communications infrastructure — one that will be reliable, fast, secure, and cost-efficient. Accordingly, the DOE must establish guidelines that are technology-neutral, never favoring an individual communications or networking technology more than another.

The Solution

Established satellite networks can be leveraged straight away to satisfy communications demands for utilities and Smart Grid. Satellite posseses an essential function for Smart Grid applications in the following crucial areas

Distribution Automation – A single, higher availability connection with an entry way which is fed by distribution devices, supports the traffic profile, high availability, and ubiquity.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) – Satellite provides a high-quality, affordable alternative to the conventional technologies, which have suffered with congestion, loss in coverage during disaster, and limited range. Satellite operates on safe networks, are not susceptible to public usage and its utilization of innovative antenna designs provide for much easier set up.

Mobile Work Force – New satellite technology may cost-effectively deliver rewards such as on-the-move vehicle connectivity and higher bandwidth

Disaster Recovery – Satellite technology is integral to disaster-recovery programs of utilities. Actually, the National Broadband Plan recommended the “use of broadband fixed and mobile satellite service for emergency preparedness and response activities, as well as for national security, homeland security, continuity and crisis management.”

Clearly, broadband IP Satellite SCADA services are fundamental to our nations foreseeable future, and needs to be looked at as the most effective solutions to permit the Smart Grid to function at optimum efficiency.

In remote locations around the world, Companies are looking at new and improved ways of upgrading their communications. High speed data is common place in the terrestrial sector however off the grid, it’s a rare commodity. Fast moving data is a necessity in remote areas to allow businesses to stay on top of potential network and/or equipment issues in real time. One of the most popular ways the satellite industry is impacting global business is via the BGAN Satellite Terminal, or Broadband Global Area network, a high speed satellite broadband modem that transmits simultaneous voice and data from anywhere, to any location on the planet when terrestrial connectivity is not an option.

We have put together a list of ten reasons why it’s should be a requirement of every business operating in remote locations of the world that need to access critical network and equipment data, to consider the BGAN Satellite Terminal.

Customization– The BGAN terminal comes in different styles and sizes of varying degrees of bandwidth capability depending on the requirements with the particular business application. In the Utilities or energy industry for example, a Wifi capable terminal is ideal for a Smart Grid Meter application that is often installed anywhere from 20 to 30 feet high. On the other end of the spectrum, an adventurer that is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and wishes to stay in contact with relatives and buddies and update his blog daily may only require to be hard wired in through an ethernet cable to his computer from the terminal.

Global Coverage – operates off of the I-4 satellites which are  geosynchronous birds that function via the Inmarsat network covering the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions. This group of satellites covers the footprint of 95% of the earth?s surface. BGAN Satellite is truly a worldwide communications solution.

Simple-To-Use – BGAN terminals are developed to be a streamlined and user-friendly technology, making even complex data transfers a simple task. With no technical expertise required, and less than 5 minutes to establish voice or data communications, these terminals bring with them convenience and ease-of-use

Unobtrusive and Adaptable– There are many options when it comes to portable, fixed or vehicular BGAN terminals. This ability to decide the role the terminals will play, provides organizations with the features and performance options to suit many different operational needs. BGAN is extremely flexible in the various roles that it can play to meet the demands of unique organization applications.

Various Applications– It’s amazing how 1 BGAN unit, basically the size of an average laptop, can do so many things. Some of the applications that BGAN is most utilized for are email, browsing the web, secure VPN, SMS, videoconferencing, file transfers, live video streaming and remote surveillance, just to name a few.

Mobile Work Force– In big cities, WiFi does exist however it is the victim of range challenges. As long as the end user is outside, with direct line of site to the I4 satellites, broadband global area network is not plagued by these range issues.

Designed for All Industries– Developed with every possible scenario in mind, BGAN Satellite terminals have the potential to be used by any industry that has a need for remote communications where cell phones and Wifi access points don’t exist. Industries such as Mining, Oil/Gas and the Utilities, as well as for individual projects for journalists, aid workers, and engineers, everyone who requires dependable and secure broadband data and voice access.

Simultaneous Voice and Broadband Data– With a single BGAN terminal, you can access data applications in remote areas at high speeds, while making a phone call at the same time. You are able to select guaranteed data rates on demand with voice and data capability.

Performance – Data connection speeds of up to half a megabit are common in BGAN terminals. Add to that a portfolio of IP streaming rates of 32, 64, 128, 176, 256, and BGAN X-Stream, along with an ability to support ISDN at 64 kbps, you have some of the fastest world-wide communications technology around. This bandwidth capability is more than enough to meet the needs of most businesses that require a virtual remote office.

Network Reliability and Longevity -The geostationary location of satellites mean that service is not affected by typical terrestrial outages, which are commonly experience with cellular technology, particularly in extreme weather or when communications are compromised from a natural or man-made disaster for example. BGAN terminals provide the reliability you need to be confident in your business.

As you can see, there are many benefits to using BGAN terminals for your organization. To get more information on these systems