INMARSAT LAUNCHES NEW INTERRUPTIBLE FEEDBACK CAPABILITY FOR BGAN X-STREAM
New enhancements showcased at stand 2.A15, IBC 2011
9th September 2011 – Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has introduced a new interruptible feedback (IFB) capability for BGAN X-Stream, the world’s fastest on-demand mobile satellite service.
The new IFB function for BGAN X-Stream allows news crews to communicate with the studio, monitor audio and receive cueing information during live video reporting. It has been made possible via a new simultaneous voice and data capability introduced on the service, allowing both broadband IP data and circuit-switched voice channels to be active at the same time.
Launched in 2009, BGAN X-Stream significantly increased the data streaming speed available on the award-winning BGAN service, with a guaranteed minimum of 384kbps and a typical throughput of around 450kbps. The global reach and enhanced video quality of BGAN X-Stream enables broadcasters to defer, or even avoid, the need to use SNG trucks.
In the last two years, BGAN X-Stream has been deployed in hundreds of media reports around the world; from the tragic events in Haiti in early 2010, which saw an unprecedented deployment of BGANs and the BGAN X-Stream service, to more recently in coverage of the Arab Spring. News teams following events in Libya, in particular, made extensive use of the quick set-up, ease-of-use and high-quality video of BGAN X-Stream.
An IFB capability is just the latest enhancement available for BGAN X-Stream. Inmarsat, in collaboration with BGAN manufacturer Thrane & Thrane, has also recently announced the launch of BGAN X-Stream on vehicular terminals. Available via Thrane & Thrane’s Explorer 727, it allows news crews to use their vehicular BGAN, when stationary, to access the higher guaranteed streaming rate of BGAN X-Stream.
“The broadcast media sector is incredibly important to Inmarsat, and we are continually looking for ways to enhance the services we deliver to broadcasters,” said Mike Seery, Head of Media Sector Development for Inmarsat. “The introduction of an IFB capability for BGAN X-Stream is a good example of this, as it provides a useful enhancement to a service that we know is popular with broadcasters around the world. We will continue to innovate and keep pace with the demands of broadcasters to ensure that we maintain BGAN as the mobile satellite service of choice”.
In 2008, the BGAN-based digital newsgathering solution from CNN was awarded an Emmy by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in its Technology and Engineering Awards. The same solution won both the Innovation Award for Content Creation and the Judges’ Award at IBC in 2007.
About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc (LSE: ISAT) is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. The company’s services are delivered through a global network of more than 400 distribution partners and service providers operating in 100 countries. For the year ended 31 December 2010, Inmarsat plc had total revenue of US$1,171.6 million (2009: US$1,038.1 million) with an EBITDA of US$696.1 million (2009: US$594.2 million). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com.
