Feb/March 2007

Inmarsat's BGAN affordable satellite broadband service is to be offered to users as part of the portfolio of iPass, a company that made its name in global Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity, and also offers 3G mobile data services, Ethernet (in hotels) and dial-up access points, and is active in over 160 countries.

BGAN, or Broadband Global Area Network, is described by Inmarsat as a next-generation satellite service, providing broadband coverage across 85 per cent of the world's land mass and 98 per cent of the population.

iPass sees it as extending its services to places where other broadband technologies don't reach - either because no 3G or Wi-Fi service has been deployed, or because the locations are too remote.

BGAN is a shared service, which reduces costs vastly when compared with previous satellite-based communications packages, and it is also said to be extremely easy for users to set up.

 

iPass aims to launch the service in the third quarter of this year, and to integrate it into its standard user interface and billing systems.