Inmarsat space initiative

A joint government and industry initiative that aims to shape the future success of the UK space industry was launched at Inmarsat's headquarters in London (25 June).
An expert group, the Space Innovation Growth Team (IGT), has been formed from among the UK's leading companies, institutions and government departments involved in the sector to conduct an ambitious six-month review.
The Space IGT was unveiled at a joint event held at Inmarsat's HQ by UK science minister Lord Drayson, IGT chairman and chief executive of Logica Andy Green, and Inmarsat chief operating officer Perry Melton.

Initial report
The group is tasked with creating a 20-year strategy for the industry - and has until the end of 2009 to prepare an initial report for the UK government outlining the steps needed to build Britain's leadership in space.
It will seek views from the entire space industry, and industries such as entertainment, navigation and climate change that rely on space technology. It will set out the challenges and opportunities that govern future value creation, competitiveness and growth in the space sector.
The Space IGT will draw on leadership experience from some of Britain's top space companies, including Inmarsat. It will identify the future innovation, technology and investment priorities for the sector and other enablers of growth.

Source: Inmarsat

Career path
The group will also seek to create a "space aware" culture in the UK, with a space career path being defined for students wishing to enter the sector.
And it will consider how to ensure that government policy is better aligned to meet the future needs of the industry.

Lord Drayson said: "The space industry makes a significant contribution to our economy and we need to make sure that we do all we can to ensure it remains globally competitive.
"Space inspires our young people to get involved with science and the strategy will look at how to make our society more space aware and how to help the next generation of engineers, scientists and even lawyers to get involved in space."

Double-digit growth
Andy Green added: "Space is one of the few sectors in the UK economy that is enjoying almost double-digit growth and has the potential to do so for decades to come.
"We will set out ways to help the sector on its upwards trajectory, by ensuring that Britain has the necessary skills and policy framework, and a climate that fosters innovation."
Inmarsat's chief operating officer, Perry Melton, said: "Inmarsat is about to celebrate its 30th birthday. We started out as an intergovernmental organisation and now we are among the top FTSE 100 companies.

Talent pool
"In the course of that time, the investment in the UK and European space industries has been fundamental for our business."
Perry recounted how, 20 years ago, Inmarsat's owners considered moving to another country.
"The decision to stay here in the UK was driven by the talent pool in the UK and Europe, as well as the wide supplier base, including consultancy, satellite manufacturers and ground infrastructure manufacturers," he said.
"They provided the foundation for Inmarsat's decision to stay in the UK long term -because of the weight of the British space industry."

Conservationist uses BGan

A leading conservationist who has devoted his life to saving the orangutan is keeping in touch with the world from his rescue centre in the Indonesian jungle - thanks to BGAN.

Inmarsat has supplied Willie Smits with a Thrane & Thrane Explorer 700 terminal for when he is based at his remote orangutan rehabilitation centre in North Sulawesi.
The forestry scientist, originally from The Netherlands, has lived in Indonesia for 30 years but frequently carries out speaking tours to spread his message of conservation through helping local communities.

'Great combination'
He said of Inmarsat's mobile satellite broadband service: "In combination with my toughbook computer, this is a great combination for the field.
"To be able to spend time in the forest and still keep up with my many contacts - I can't express how much this means for me."
The Sumatran rehabilitation centre is home to some 200 rescued orangutans at any one time as they are prepared for release back into the wild.

Forest clearance
The animals, which once ranged throughout South-east Asia, have lost much of their natural habitat to the increasing human population and forest clearance for farming and fuel and now only live in the wild on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. IUCN (the World Conservation Union) lists them as critically endangered.
Through his Masarang Foundation, Willie raises money and awareness to restore habitats, by helping local people find options other than the short-term fix of harvesting forests to survive.
In 2007, Masarang opened a palm-sugar factory that uses thermal energy to turn sugar palms (fast-growing trees that thrive in degraded soils) into sugar and ethanol.

Source: Inmarsat, Masarang Foundation

New Satcomm Pro

Award Granted for Iridium OpenPort

Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium) and Cambridge Consultants are proud to announce that Global Telecoms Business (GTB) magazine has awarded its prestigious 2009 GTB Innovation Award to the two companies for excellence in the Wireless Network Infrastructure Innovation category. The award recognizes the groundbreaking Iridium OpenPort® system, which is the world's first and only global high-speed voice and data service for the maritime market.

With its small footprint and light weight, the Iridium OpenPort omni-directional antenna array can be quickly installed in any convenient location on deck. It does not require a stabilization platform and is virtually maintenance free. With no moving parts, the array reduces the risk of failure or downtime and lowers the total cost of operations. Iridium OpenPort delivers up to three phone lines for simultaneous use and features always-on data with speeds up to 128 kbps - on an all-IP backbone.

"We are delighted to be recognized as a world leader in wireless innovation along with our partners at Cambridge Consultants," said Matt Desch, chief executive officer of Iridium. "It reflects the innovation behind Iridium OpenPort as it delivers a total maritime communications solution, providing a reliable link for anyone operating in one of the world's most unpredictable environments. It also reflects the hard work and dedication of our key design and development partner, Cambridge Consultants, who worked with us to develop this truly differentiating product."

Organized annually by GTB, the Innovation Awards are designed to honor innovative projects involving telecoms operators and service providers around the world, in association with their vendors and suppliers. Iridium and Cambridge Consultants joined 300 other telecommunication industry leaders from around the world at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London, U.K. on June 16, 2009. Keynote speakers at the event included: Holly Kramer of Telstra, Dr. Saad Al-Barrak of Zain, and Nick Jeffery of Vodafone Global Enterprise. The ceremony was sponsored by Juniper Networks and Hewlett-Packard.

Source: Iridium

BGan Launchpad Software Guide

Iridium Moves Toward Full Certification for Air Safety Communication on Transoceanic Flights

'Iridium recently passed an important milestone toward international certification for air safety communication services for commercial aircraft on transoceanic routes. In April 2009, the Program Management Committee (PMC) of the RTCA (formerly known as the Radio-Technical Commission for Aeronautics) approved two key documents – DO-262 and DO-270 – establishing operational and system-specific performance standards for Iridium Aeronautical Mobile Satellite (Route) Services (AMS(R)S).

The next step will be an in-service operational evaluation of Iridium datalink systems installed in nine Continental Airlines B737 aircraft in the South Pacific region. The tests, which are expected to commence in August, will be conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Performance-Based Operations Aviation Rulemaking Committee’s (PARC) Communications Working Group (CWG), with ACARS over Iridium (AOI) datalink services provided by SITA. The FAA has granted a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Iridium-based satLINK™ avionics suite supplied by Avionica, Inc. from Miami, Fla. Participants of the South Pacific regional evaluations will share the results with air traffic control authorities in other service regions, clearing the way for rapid approval of Iridium AMS(R)S services around the world.'

Source: Iridium

Iridium 9555 Gets Favourable Review

While on travel recently, Group Editor-in-Chief, Rich Tehrani of TMC.Net puts the Iridium 9555 satellite phone through its paces and gives it a favourable review.

Iridium 9555 Review

Having never had a chance to write a review about a satellite phone I was pretty motivated to respond yes to the good people at Iridium when they asked if I wanted to run their newest device the 9555 phone through its paces. In order to do a thorough review I took it with me on my travels and made calls in various places where there was typically no cell coverage.

The device itself won't get mistaken for an iPhone - it is many times thicker and has a smaller black and white screen. But what it does do better than any gadget you might read about on popular gadget sites is work everywhere - except indoors. It is a bulletproof device which was designed with users in mind. Iridium execs explain that reliability is key with this phone and so is durability.

It seems like it is made of the same material as the black box on an airplane.
It is also interesting to note that when a company is sure about their market they can really cater to it. The evidence is the company's terminology in their brochure: THE ULTIMATE SATELLITE PHONE.

The Iridium 9555 is the ultimate in dependable mobile communications. It is a ruggedly built tool, not a toy. It won't play games, take pictures, or play MP3s. What it will do is work. Everywhere. Without exception. Small, sleek and easy to use, it is waterproof and dust and shock resistant. Engineered to withstand the world's toughest environments, Iridium phones have never been more efficient, reliable and effective.

When you open the box the phone comes in you are presented with adapters for every country in the world and just trying to figure out which would work in Sardinia presented me with a challenge. Hint - it was of the two-prong variety.

Source: TMCnet

So is it easy to use? Dead easy, yes. I was impressed with the call quality and it even worked when I went indoors - as long as there wasn't a lot of steel over my head. There is also data modem connectivity I didn't get a chance to try.
Other than that there are the standard mobile phone features like SMS, voicemail, address books, etc.
As you might expect, Iridium hasn't launched an app store but one wonders if there isn't an opportunity for specialized applications pertaining to the markets they cater to such as military, oil and gas, etc.

If I had to ask for more features, a camera would be high on my list as sending MMS messages from remote locations back to the home office could be useful. Video too is another area the company will have to deal with eventually as there may be an opportunity to stream video or send clips in places only this device has connectivity.

Other than that, the Iridium 9555 just plain works. It's looks won't make you the envy of the patrons of your favorite bar or dance club but you will certainly be the popular one later that evening when the party moves to a place with poor or no cell phone reception.

The opinions and views expressed in comments, blogs, etc. are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of TMC, TMCnet, or its editors.

Source: TMCnet

Thuraya NettedComms

What is Thuraya NettedComms?

Thuraya NettedComms is a solution that incorporates Thuraya satellite phones, GSM, UHF/Microwave/Wi-Fi Radio technology and uses technologies ranging from simple analogue voice to leading edge Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP). This flexibility ensures the solution is fit for its purpose, uses the best
infrastructure available and is always simple to use. The essence of Thuraya NettedComms is the ability to deliver an open conference platform where everyone can talk and everyone can listen. Thuraya NettedComms, can help build open conferencing for the following industries:

• Emergency services
• Disaster management
• Oil and Gas exploration
• Health
• Media
• NGOs
• Logistics

Key Benefits of Thuraya NettedComms

• Talk to Pre-Defined Users: Thuraya NettedComms is a
unique solution that enables you to talk instantly to a
pre-defined group of users with a single press of a button.
• Flexible Modular Solution: using leading edge Voice over
Internet Protocols, Thuraya NettedComms provides a
flexible solution that is modular and easily deployed over
fixed or satellite networks.
• Ethernet Based: requiring only a single Ethernet port per
user and has a high level of built-in and network resilience.
• Highly Cost Effective. A solution that is scalable to
thousands of users.

Source: Thuraya

Iridium Awarded U.S Navy Contract

Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium) announces that the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren has awarded one of its subsidiaries a $21,688,808 indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity cost-type contract to support development and delivery of the Distributed Tactical Communications System (DTCS). DTCS is an extension of “Netted Iridium,” the company’s push-to-talk communications capability. DTCS will provide over-the-horizon, on-the-move, beyond line-of-sight netted voice and data communications over the Iridium network for the tactical warfighter.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has been testing Phase One Netted technologies since 2006. The Navy awarded Iridium the five-year contract on June 4, 2009, marking “Phase Two” of Netted technologies development. The DTCS team also includes ITT Corporation and The Boeing Company. ITT Corporation is leading the effort to design, develop and produce the DTCS tactical radio, along with design, development and installation of the DTCS ground-based management system. The Boeing Company is updating software for the Iridium satellite fleet, as well as performing systems integration and testing.

“Iridium is pleased that, after extensive end-user evaluations of the Netted Iridium platform with hundreds of warfighters using it in diverse and austere environments, our DoD customers found DTCS to be valuable enough to warrant the next phase of development,” said retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John Campbell, executive vice president, Government Programs, Iridium. “We understand there is an unfulfilled need to provide mission-critical, tactical comms-on-the-move, and we are proud to join our industry and government partners to provide this capability for our warfighters. As the single truly global mobile satellite services (MSS) provider, only Iridium can provide a netted solution anywhere in the world.”

The DoD also selected DTCS as the number two candidate for a 2009 Joint Concept Technology Demonstration, further indicating its strong interest in the service.
“Since Desert Storm, we’ve had an unsatisfied requirement for C2 OTM (command and control on-the-move) and no material solution to date has had such great potential in filling that requirement across such a broad spectrum as Netted Iridium does,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Bowman, U.S. Central Command J-6. “In my opinion, Netted Iridium will be the most significant tactical communications improvement developed and fielded during the global war on terror.”

DTCS development has proceeded in two phases. Iridium and the DoD developed Phase One under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between industry and the Navy. Funded by industry, it provided a capability used for concept-based experimentation by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory in Quantico, Va. It proved that Iridium could enhance its satellite network to support a multicast architecture for tactical, netted voice and data communications. In Phase Two, Iridium will enhance its satellite network further with on-orbit software upgrades in addition to making ground infrastructure enhancements. These changes will expand the footprint of the DTCS communication “nets” and significantly increase the number of nets available to the DoD. In addition, the DTCS program will include development of a ruggedized Iridium tactical radio to further meet the needs of warfighters in the environments they face. Early prototypes and initial production devices have garnered positive feedback from warfighters in theater today.

Source: Iridium Press Release

Consumers vote Inmarsat most innovative company in UK

05-06-2009 - Inmarsat has the best reputation for innovation in the UK and is one of the ten most reputable public companies in the country, according to a major survey among consumers.

The Reputation Institute Consultancy's survey of 5,000 adults in the United Kingdom asked respondents to vote on the leading 140 companies quoted on the London Stock Exchange, as part of its Global Reputation Pulse 2009 Study.

Inmarsat came top in the category for innovation - one of seven categories - which recognises a company for making or selling innovative products or innovating in the way it does business.

Unique capabilities
Inmarsat chairman and CEO Andy Sukawaty said: "This is a recognition of the unique capabilities and excellent market perception of Inmarsat.

"As a pioneer of mobile satellite services, the survey acknowledges our leadership position in the industry and specifically the success of the Inmarsat business in delivering innovative services with a reputation for reliability and quality.

"As we approach our 30th anniversary, the survey result reflects the many years of hard work by many people around the world, and we should be rightly proud."

The Global Reputation Pulse 2009 Study was conducted online during January and February. Scores were calculated by averaging perceptions of four indicators - trust, esteem, admiration and good feeling.

Source: Inmarsat

Feature in Popular Mechanics

Is anybody out there?

The last thing you need when stranded mid-ocean or halfway up a mountain is to lose touch. The Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone is not a fancy handset - it doesn't take pictures or play games - but if you're looking for a rugged communication tool that always works, no matter how rough the environment, it's the way to go. Water-, shock- and dust-resistant it features a retractable antenna that gives you gap-free coverage of the entire planet. Because voice and data are routed among satellites, the connection is both secure and reliable. The menu-driven interface makes it user-friendly for first-time users, as does the illuminated weather-resistant keypad. It can be programmed for automatic dialling. Other features include a speakerphone, SMS and e-mail capability, and a Mini-USB data port. Contact Satellite Communication on 011-402 1166 or visit www.satcomms.co.za

Source: Popular Mechanics Magazine June 2009

You Need a Satellite Phone

When you travel to remote areas, cellphone and normal telephone line coverage is either non-existent or very poor.

Iridium phones have global coverage. All you need is line of sight to the sky and you will pick up one of the 66 Iridium satellites orbiting above.

These phones have been used extensively on land, at sea, in the air, in the middle of disaster areas (such as Hurricane Katrina), by the military and of course by holiday adventurers.

Iridium phones also offer Internet connectivity. So when you are in the middle of nowhere and you need an Internet connection there is no need for an Internet cafe. Your Iridium phone will connect you.

If you frequently find yourself out of phone coverage, then you need a satellite phone to stay in touch

Inmarsat in Volvo Ocean Race

An interesting article on how Inmarsat is helping out at the Volvo Ocean Race:

01-06-2009 - Rick Deppe is leading the charge to win the first overall Inmarsat Media Prize after filming dramatic footage in the Atlantic leg of the Volvo Ocean Race.
The videographer captured the tense moments when a rudder broke on the Puma's il mostro yacht and a crew member had to be lowered over the side on ropes to install a replacement.

The footage, relayed via Inmarsat's FleetBroadband service, together with other pictures of dolphins swimming alongside the yacht, led to Rick scooping the Inmarsat media prize for the seventh leg of the race.

Favourite for prize
He was presented with a trophy and 1,000 Euro prize (US$1,423) to the cheers of the rest il mostro's crew at a ceremony in Galway, Eire.
Rick has now won the media prize for three legs of the race - ahead of other media crew members Gustav Moran of Ericsson 3, who has won two, and Guy Salter on Ericsson 4 and Gabriel Olivo on Telefonica Blue, who have each won one.
With four legs to go he's now looks a favourite to scoop the final 10,000 Euro prize (US$14,229) purse for the onboard crew member who produces the best video, photos and written reports.

Global audience
Inmarsat - the official sponsor of satellite communications for the Volvo Ocean Race - is funding a total prize purse of 20,000 Euro (US$28,450).
It comprises of a series of 1,000 Euro awards for the various legs of the race, plus the final 10,000 Euro prize for the overall winner, which will be awarded in the Russian city of St Petersburg.

Rick was presented with his trophy and the1,000 Euro prize by Inmarsat's external communications manager John Warehand who said: "Jarring slams, resounding crunches, lost rudders, wipe-outs, torn sails and tactical frustration - the Atlantic was almost too small for the human experience on the leg to Galway.

"Each change and challenge has been mirrored by the media crew members, who have helped to build a global audience of almost 2 billion."

The next phase of the 37,000-mile nine-month race will be a short 1,250-nautical-mile sprint from Galway to Marstrand, Sweden, starting on 14 June.

Source: Volvo Ocean Race, Inmarsat

Iridium 9555 Antenna

If you are using the new Iridium 9555 then you will have noticed how fantastic the new antenna is. Much smaller than the previous version. More information about the antenna below:

Sarantel develops and manufactures advanced miniature filtering antennas for mobile, wireless and handheld devices. Iridium is a pioneer in the satellite communications industry and is the only mobile satellite services (MSS) company offering truly global, pole-to-pole coverage.

The Iridium 9555 represents a dramatic step forward in innovation and usability for handsets in the MSS sector. Users will benefit from a host of innovative features, such as a brighter screen, a speaker phone, short messaging service (SMS) and email capabilities, an upgraded mini-USB data port, an internal antenna and significantly reduced form factor. It is also programmable in 14 languages.

"The ability of Iridium to reduce the antenna size, without sacrificing performance, was a critical design element for this revolutionary new handset," said David Schoen, chief technology officer, Iridium. "Sarantel responded to our challenge by providing Iridium with a highly innovative, technically advanced design for the 9555 antenna. They proved to be a superb technology partner, producing a creative, cost-effective and performance-driven solution."

Source: WirelessWorkForceOnline