Inmarsat launches enhancement to voice and broadband mobile data service
20th April 2009
Broadcasters now have access to unprecedented mobile video streaming rates with BGAN X-Stream from Inmarsat.
An enhancement to Inmarsat’s BGAN service, which has been used in thousands of media reports around the world, BGAN X-Stream guarantees streaming data rates from a minimum of 384kbps to around 450kbps. It is the fastest on-demand streaming rate available in a mobile satellite service.
The new premium IP streaming service is accessible through existing hardware – single, highly-compact and lightweight BGAN terminals from Hughes and Thrane & Thrane – without the need for external antenna or any additional hardware.
“We developed BGAN X-Stream in response to demands from broadcasters,” said Drew Brandy, Head of Land Mobile Services at Inmarsat. “This enhancement represents an increase in BGAN’s streaming rate of at least 50 per cent. It means that we can meet the demand for higher guaranteed data rates, and offer a service that moves closer to broadcast quality.
“The enhanced video quality of BGAN X-Stream enables broadcaster to defer, or even avoid, the need to use SNG trucks. No matter where the story breaks, the global reach of BGAN X-Stream will deliver higher quality video to the studio from the remote broadcast”.
BGAN X-Stream becomes commercially available on 20th April 2009; initially on the Inmarsat-4 EMEA satellite, and globally from the end of June 2009.
“We have a strong on-going relationship with broadcasters, and today’s launch shows our commitment to the sector,” said Brandy. “We are the only mobile satellite service that can offer higher guaranteed data rates, across a reliable and proven network, with a global reach”.
In 2008, the BGAN-based digital newsgathering solution from CNN was awarded an Emmy by the National Academy
of Television Arts and Sciences in its Technology and Engineering Awards.
Terminals capable of accessing the new BGAN X-Stream service are the Hughes HNS9201 and the Thrane & Thrane Explorer 700. As with other BGAN streaming rates, the new service is compatible with all leading video and audio IP applications and codecs.
