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Inmarsat and ViaSat to Develop BGAN Terminal for Defense Sector |
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LONDON, Jan. 11, 2007/Satnews Daily/ — Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT) and ViaSat, Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) have announced a co-funded project to develop a new mobile satellite communications terminal for the defense sector. The two companies said the collaboration will provide secure, reliable and highly mobile voice and high-speed data communications to the armed forces.
Targeted specifically at the U.S. and NATO markets, the companies will develop an Integrated Terminal that will combine Inmarsat’s IP-based Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) technology with ViaSat AltaSec IP inline encryption equipment. The results, the said, will be a portable, ruggedized BGAN user terminal capable of uplinking IP data fully compliant with HAIPE™ version 1.3.5 Type 1 security standards.
ViaSat added the new terminal takes advantage of the company’s long history of supplying ruggedized equipment to tactical warfighters in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.
“ViaSat’s leadership in manpack MILSATCOM terminal equipment makes them a natural partner to manufacture BGAN terminals that can meet the demanding requirements of defense agencies and military services worldwide,” said Perry Melton, vice president of sales & marketing for Inmarsat.
BGAN is the world’s first mobile communications service to deliver simultaneous voice and broadband IP data to a highly portable device on a global basis. It supports mobile broadband data at speeds up to half-a-megabit per second, as well as guaranteed IP data rates up to 256kbps. Engineers from both companies have already successfully demonstrated the compatibility of using the BGAN service with ViaSat KG-250 Type-1 High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor Interoperability Standard (HAIPE IS) compliant encryption products over the new constellation of Inmarsat advanced broadband satellites, the Inmarsat-4s.
“We know that the BGAN capabilities are highly attractive to a variety of military users, and this agreement with ViaSat will provide enhanced hardware to maximize its potential in that sector,” said Melton. “ViaSat has the expertise and insight into U.S., NATO and Allied military needs to develop a BGAN terminal that is a viable augmentation to existing military satcom services.”
The terminal will combine BGAN’s unprecedented levels of broadband connectivity for Communications on the Move and other high mobility requirements, with the military’s needs for a hardware platform that meets the ruggedness and security needs of IP-centric, tactical users, according to Phil Berry, vice president and general manager of Government SATCOM Systems for ViaSat.
“By developing a BGAN terminal integrated with HAIPE IS security, we create a near term secure connectivity capability needed by today’s warfighters. We look forward to further exciting developments through our strategic partnership with Inmarsat.”
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