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Inmarsat
Inmarsat was the world's first global mobile satellite communications
operator and is still the only one to offer a mature range
of modern communications services to maritime, land-mobile,
aeronautical and other users.
Formed as a maritime-focused intergovernmental organization
over 20 years ago, Inmarsat has been a limited company since
1999, serving a broad range of markets. Starting with a user
base of 900 ships in the early 1980s, it now supports links
for phone, fax and data communications at up to 64kbit/s to
more than 240,000 ship, vehicle, aircraft and portable terminals.
That number is growing at several thousands a month.
Inmarsat Ltd is a subsidiary of the Inmarsat Ventures plc
holding company. It operates a constellation of geostationary
satellites designed to extend phone, fax and data communications
all over the world. The constellation comprises five third-generation
satellites backed up by four earlier spacecraft.
Inmarsat Video
The satellites are controlled from Inmarsat's headquarters
in London, which is also home to Inmarsat Ventures as well
as the small IGO created to supervise the company's public-service
duties for the maritime community (Global Maritime Distress
and Safety System) and aviation (air traffic control communications).
Inmarsat has regional offices in Dubai, Singapore and India.
Today's Inmarsat system is used by independent service providers
to offer a range of voice and multimedia communications. Users
include ship owners and managers, journalists and broadcasters,
health and disaster-relief workers, land transport fleet operators,
airlines, airline passengers and air traffic controllers,
government workers, national emergency and civil defence agencies,
and peacekeeping forces.
The Inmarsat business strategy is to pursue a range of new
opportunities at the convergence of information technology,
telecoms and mobility while continuing to serve traditional
maritime, aeronautical, land-mobile and remote-area markets.
Keystone of the strategy is the new Inmarsat I-4 satellite
system, which from 2004 will support the Inmarsat Broadband
Global Area Network (B-GAN) - mobile data communications at
up to 432kbit/s for Internet access, mobile multimedia and
many other advanced applications


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