Iridium To Provide Communications Service Along Canadian Trans-Labrador Highway

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is establishing an Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium)-based satellite phone service for motorists on the Trans-Labrador Highway.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador launched this new Iridium-based satellite phone program for the Trans-Labrador Highway to ensure they had the most reliable communications capability possible. The Iridium solution replaces and upgrades previous communications services from other providers. Through this program, local hotel operators will offer Iridium phones as loaners to motorists traveling along the highway. The phones will be pre-programmed to direct calls to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, which will coordinate necessary emergency responses directly or through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Trans-Labrador Highway is made up of more than 950 miles of asphalt and gravel road, with very few turnoffs or stops, in a remote region of northeastern Canada.

“We are confident that the Iridium phones will provide a more reliable and consistent performance communication lifeline, which is very important as it is the only means of communication on a long, desolate stretch of highway,” said Trevor Taylor, transportation minister for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Source: Iridium Satellite LLC

Thuraya launches new Satphone

Thuraya XT - World's toughest satellite phone

Thuraya XT, the world's first IP54/IK03 certified satellite phone, has arrived (ETA in SA unavailable). Splash resistant, dust protected, and shockproof, Thuraya XT is the most rugged handset combining satellite phone functionality with the dependability of Thuraya's superior network.

Thuraya XT lets you stay close. Wherever you are within Thuraya's extensive coverage area, however remote the location, you're never more than a phone call away.

Thuraya XT is ideal for everybody who moves around in areas where local networks are unreliable or non-existent. Its extremely durable construction makes Thuraya XT ideally suited to tough environments, where other satellite phones may not handle the conditions so well.

Rugged design
Built to exacting standards and using the latest durable polycarbonates for the outside case, the Thuraya XT is, quite simply, the most durable satellite phone on the market. But don't take our word for it - Thuraya XT's IP54/IK03 rating is a globally recognised standard from the International Electrotechnical Commission.

Internet-on-the-go
The handset's GmPRS capability means you can easily send/receive emails and browse the web with your laptop or PC from anywhere, at download/upload speeds of 60/15kbps. Fax and data speeds are 9.6kbps.

Reliability Thuraya XT boasts the longest battery life of any satellite handset, providing up to 6 hours talk-time and up to 80 hours standby-time.

Compact and lightweight
Weighing only 193g and measuring just 128 x 53 x 26.5mm (h x w x d), Thuraya XT is incredibly compact and lightweight, but heavy on features and reliability.

Thuraya XT, the world's toughest satellite handset - stay close.

Key features

• Satellite telephony
• Rugged construction - IP54/IK03 standards (dust protected, splash-water resistant, shock proof)
• 2 inch outdoor colour display
• Glare-resistant display with high contrast menu - for easy readability in direct sunlight
• Battery-saving technology - Brightness Sensor for the display to reduce battery consumption
• Perfectly balanced size-to-weight ratio
• Compact size - 128 x 53 x 26.5mm (h x w x d)
• User-friendly menu structure with fast access to functions
• GmPRS-enabled
• GPS functionality for waypoint navigation
• Long battery life - up to 6 hours talk-time/up to 80 hours standby-time*
• Messaging via SMS, e-mail and fax
• Organizer including calendar and alarm functions

*Depends on phone usage

Source: Thuraya

BGAN helps to fix eye's

The shell of an essential eye clinic which will serve 200,000 Tanzanians was built by volunteers from the US, who sent daily progress reports via BGAN.

Around 35 volunteers from the Atonement Lutheran Church in Kansas City travelled to Mwanza, Eastern Tanzania, to construct the clinic structure as part of a project being coordinated by International Health Partner TZ-US organisation.
The volunteers supplied many of the building materials themselves and worked in an area where mobile broadband proved extremely useful for keeping in touch.

Blogs and photos were sent via a Thrane & Thrane BGAN terminal.
Charles Powell, a physician and church member who travelled with the group, says the BGAN service was a useful asset. He would take a BGAN terminal on another such trip as it was ideal for emergency use when local services are unavailable.
"We found the service to be reliable, in distinct contrast to the wireless service available locally. For our purposes, this was a definite advantage," he said.

"Although we were located near a metropolitan area the system could have worked equally well in remote regions. Data exchange rates were acceptable and we were able to share our connection by using a simple wireless access point," said Charles.
"This allowed me to upload and download email to my Blackberry device whenever the satellite link was running and I was able to exchange daily updates from the hostel we were staying, while another church member kept the blog updated with very little difficulty."

These updates recorded the setting up of a makeshift eye clinic in an existing facility next door where the volunteers' resident doctor saw around 30 local patients a day.

Source: Inmarsat

BBC beaming live video

Live news reports are being beamed from the deck of the sailing barque Europa as it competes in the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009. BBC Northern Ireland reporter Julian Fowler is sending video reports, blogs and tweets from the 56-metre vessel using a FleetBroadband Sailor 500 terminal.

The Atlantic challenge from Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada to Belfast, Northern Ireland, is the final leg of the Tall Ships Races involving 30 sailing ships of various sizes, which is described by the organisers, Sail Training International, as a "spectacular odyssey" around the North Atlantic covering more than 7,000 nautical miles.

Julian joined the crew for the final leg on board Europa as the vessel headed for Belfast. His updates on Twitter also tell of conditions at sea. "Less than 1,000 miles from home. Fog and rain. Force 8 gale tonight. Battening down the hatches. More dramatic footage in store!" tweeted Julian on 2 August.

Source: Inmarsat

Bankruptcy Proceedings Unrelated to Iridium Satellite LLC

Iridium News Alert:

"From time to time we receive inquiries regarding legal notices and media reports relating to bankruptcy proceedings of companies bearing the Iridium name. A recent example is a Chapter 11 bankruptcy liquidation plan filed by Iridium Operations LLC, a subsidiary of Iridium LLC (U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, Chapter 11 Case No. 99-45005 (JMP)). Please note that neither of these companies has a business relationship with our company, Iridium Satellite LLC. So, it is important to know that this liquidation notice has no bearing on our business whatsoever. We also want to assure you that Iridium Satellite – with whom you do business today – is thriving.

By way of background, Motorola formed a number of entities in the 1990s that bear the name Iridium in some form or another. These entities include Iridium LLC, Iridium Operating LLC, Iridium IP LLC, Iridium Capital Corp., Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium (Potomac) LLC, and Iridium Promotions LLC among others. While ten years have lapsed since the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings relating to these companies, many remain active cases. While the proceedings will eventually end, until then, you may continue to hear information about Iridium companies in bankruptcy. Most importantly we want you to know that while they bear the Iridium name, these companies are completely separate from, and not related to, our company either by ownership or through business relationships. And, since our company is not related to these entities, we are not involved in or apprised of the continuing activities related to the bankruptcy proceedings.

We appreciate that legal notices and media coverage about this can be confusing but want to assure you that these proceedings in no way are related to Iridium Satellite or otherwise affect our relationships with you or our growing business."

Source: Iridium Satellite LLC

Line of Sight

When talking about or finding out about satellite phones, you may often hear the term "line of sight". What does this mean?

Satellite phones need a clear line of sight view of the satellite. Performance can also be affected by poor weather and use is generally restricted to outdoors (though they will sometimes work through glass or canvas). For Iridium, this means the phone (or at least the phone's antenna) must be outside with a reasonably unobstructed view of most of the sky. Iridium phones use a non-directional antenna - which means it does not have to be pointed in any particular direction.

For Inmarsat (iSatPhone), which uses geostationary satellites, the phone's antenna should point towards the satellite with an unobstructed view. The antenna must be outside. The set up procedure is very simple and can be accomplished in seconds with ease. Both types of satellite phones can be supplied with long antenna cable extensions to allow the hand set to be operated inside a building, and for vehicle or maritime use.