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Stratos Announces Commercial Availability of BGAN Mobile Satellite Service in U.S.
Leading provider of BGAN now offering next-generation broadband data and voice service around the globe
BETHESDA, MD (May 18, 2006) - Stratos Global Corp. (TSX: SGB), a leading global communications provider and the world's leading distributor of Inmarsat satellite services, today announced the commercial availability of Inmarsat BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service in the U.S. Combined with existing coverage in South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, Stratos BGAN is now available around the globe.
Together with Xantic, which was acquired on February 14, 2006, Stratos is currently the number one global provider of BGAN service with an industry-leading service offering that includes exclusive value-added service tools, including online activations, near-real-time traffic monitoring, personal firewall settings, and anywhere access via the Web to BGAN account data. In addition, Stratos supports BGAN customers with its fully meshed StratosNexus GPN network, which features robust redundancy, high-capacity processing power, managed network solutions, and full network visibility and control from the BGAN unit to the final call destination.
Earlier this year, Stratos was the first provider to support the transmission of both store-and-forward and live broadcast video news reports using BGAN with its long-standing customer, the BBC.
"We're excited to bring BGAN to the U.S. to the support high-speed data and voice communications needs of local media, first responders, state and local governments, and other mobile satellite users," said Jim Parm, Stratos' president and chief executive officer. "Already, Stratos has established itself as the leading BGAN provider in the rest of the world, including our work with the BBC to support the first live video transmissions using BGAN. Going forward, we look forward to leveraging this experience to also establish ourselves as the preferred provider in the United States."
Using compact, lightweight satellite terminals about the size of small laptop PCs, BGAN offers IP data speeds of up to 492 kbps, with the option of guaranteed data rates up to 256 kbps. The service is designed for mobile users who need dependable, secure broadband access in locations with an unreliable or non-existent telecommunications infrastructure.
A fully functional BGAN broadband mobile office can be set up and shut down in minutes, without special technical expertise. The smallest BGAN terminal weighs less than one kilo and full-featured terminals have the capability to provide both streaming IP and background IP data options, as well as WLAN capability for multi-user access.
About Stratos
Stratos Global Corporation (www.stratosglobal.com) is a publicly traded company (TSX: SGB) and the leading global provider of a wide range of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions for users operating beyond the reach of traditional networks. With its owned-and-operated infrastructure and extensive portfolio of industry-leading satellite and microwave technologies (including Inmarsat, Iridium, Globalstar, MSAT, VSAT, and others), Stratos serves the voice and high-speed data connectivity requirements of a diverse array of markets, including government, military, energy, industrial, maritime, aeronautical, enterprise, media and recreational users throughout the world.
For additional information :
Carla Riggs
Director, Corporate Communications
+1 709 748 4857
carla.riggs@stratosglobal.com