ESA collaboration to improve global mobile telecommunications
Work has begun on the upgrading of a global network to support satellite mobile phone and data services, following the signing of an agreement between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Inmarsat, the global satellite communications operator. The parties say that their collaboration will lead to global mobile broadband services being available for the first time for people at sea, in an aeroplane or travelling by land virtually anywhere in the world. ESA is to provide technical support and fund 50 per cent of a joint project that will extend the capabilities of Immarsat's new broadband global area network system (BGAN). Following the launch of a fourth generation Inmarsat satellite in 2004, BGAN is expected to become operational for land services in 2005. As the project develops, specifications will be established for BGAN platforms and services for land mobile, maritime and aeronautical applications. The project will support new developments in a wide range of applications, including high-speed Internet access, multimedia connectivity, tele-working and distance learning. Access will be provided to web TV, videoconferencing, fax, e-mail and LAN access at speeds of up to 432 kbit/second to notebook-sized terminals at almost any location in the world. Commenting on the project, Mr Eyal Trachtman of Immarsat highlighted the importance of such applications to European business: 'We are delighted to announce this project under joint agreement with ESA, which will help us to extend the benefits of BGAN to a wide scope of industries and applications.' Also welcoming the agreement, Jose Maria Casas of ESA emphasised that advanced broadband network systems are fundamental to the future development and use of satellite telecommunications. The BGAN system, as developed by ESA and Immarsat, will be compatible with third-generation (3G) cellular terrestrial systems. Indeed their project will adopt an 'open standards' approach with the results being presented in a number of standardisation forums, including ITU, ETSI and IETF, to encourage wide industrial participation.