Newsroom
Stratos Introduces New BGAN-Based SCADA Service
--New service made possible as Stratos is named exclusive global distributor of Addvalue's new BGAN SCADA Terminal--
Bethesda, Maryland (November 4, 2008) - Stratos Global Corp., the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today introduced its new BGAN SCADA service to provide high-performance connectivity for remote, unmanned SCADA applications.
The new service is made possible by an agreement, announced today, that names Stratos as the exclusive global distributor of Addvalue's new SABRE Ranger BGAN SCADA terminal. Addvalue is a leading designer and global supplier of BGAN terminals.
The new Stratos BGAN SCADA service reinforces the Company's commitment to offer superior supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) solutions to support the upstream oil & gas, utility, mining, water-management and tower-monitoring markets. The service will be commercially available in Q1 2009.
Stratos is one of the world's largest distributors of Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, an L-band mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide simultaneous, high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. BGAN is ideally suited to enable communications in areas where terrestrial or cellular networks are damaged, congested, non-existent or too difficult to deploy.
The SABRE Ranger is a ruggedized, compact BGAN terminal that withstands all environmental challenges associated with remote SCADA applications. It is designed to reliably transmit mission-critical data to the user's corporate headquarters from hard-to-reach locations.
The Stratos BGAN SCADA service is the perfect complement to DataSat II from Stratos, the Company's Ku-band, VSAT-based SCADA service introduced earlier this year. The Stratos BGAN SCADA service can serve as a network-independent backup solution to DataSat II, ensuring seamless connectivity in case of extreme weather. More than 10,000 Stratos VSAT-based SCADA terminals have been deployed for a wide range of markets nationwide.
Because it is based on the highly reliable, global Inmarsat BGAN service, the Stratos BGAN SCADA solution also is well suited for regions - such as Africa and South America - where VSAT-based SCADA systems may be too difficult to deploy, due to regulatory obstacles or lack of space-segment availability.
The Stratos BGAN SCADA service supports applications for data collection and monitoring of remote assets - including utility substations and oil or gas pipelines. In addition to custom solutions, Stratos also offers enhanced IP or serial polling and 24x7 network monitoring from its Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC is staffed with trained, SCADA-network experienced operators who ensure the highest possible network availability and provide specific insight for SCADA applications.
"Partnering with Addvalue to develop this easily deployable, cost-effective BGAN SCADA service illustrates our ability to broaden the depth of our SCADA offering to respond to urgent customer requirements," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "This new service successfully enables penetration of active SCADA management into new markets and portions of existing markets that have previously been underserved."
Addvalue Chairman & CEO Dr. Colin Chan said, "With its large installed base of BGAN systems and its deep understanding of the SCADA market, Stratos is well positioned to introduce the benefits of the SABRE Ranger terminal to a broad global audience. We expect this new agreement will be the latest in a series of successful partnerships we have enjoyed with Stratos."
About BGAN from Stratos
Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by military & NGO agencies, media organizations, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos has activated more than 10,000 BGAN terminals and boasts BGAN customers in 185 countries, which cover 95 percent of the BGAN footprint. Those customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help make BGAN usage more productive and affordable.
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, BGAN from Stratos is elevated far above baseline BGAN services. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard for BGAN, provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and full IP range. Also, StratosNexus offers a secure and managed last-mile solution for SCADA traffic through global Stratos Points of Presence (POPs).
About Addvalue
Addvalue Communications Pte Ltd is a subsidiary of Addvalue Technologies Ltd, which is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol addvaltech. Founded in Singapore in 1994, Addvalue is a leading provider of satellite communications, tracking and telemetry solutions and digital wireless design services. Addvalue is one of the three global suppliers of the BGAN land-portable satellite terminal. For more information visit www.addvaluetech.com.
About Stratos
Stratos is the world's trusted leader for vital communications. Stratos offers the most powerful and extensive portfolio of remote communications solutions including mobile and fixed satellite and microwave services. More than 20,000 customers use Stratos products and industry-leading value-added services to optimize communications performance. Stratos serves U.S. and international government, military, first responder, NGO, oil and gas, industrial, maritime, aeronautical, enterprise, and media users on seven continents and across the world's oceans. Stratos is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc. For more information, visit www.stratosglobal.com.
For additional information :
Carla Riggs
Director, Corporate Communications
+1 709 748 4857
carla.riggs@stratosglobal.com