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New Organisational Structure for Inmarsat Brings Renewed Focus on Core Markets

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:12:00 GMT

Stratos, Segovia and Ship Equip now align under the Inmarsat brand

3rd January 2012 – Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has begun the process of including its subsidiary companies within a new organisational structure that will align the Inmarsat business more closely to core vertical market segments and continue to support both direct and indirect distribution of its services.

As of 1st January 2012, Inmarsat Solutions, led by Jim Parm, is responsible for Inmarsat’s global direct and indirect sales and marketing delivery. Inmarsat Solutions now operates through four new market-facing business units:

Inmarsat Maritime, led by Frank Coles, focusing on worldwide commercial maritime opportunities;
Inmarsat Government US, led by Mike Wheeler, focusing on US government opportunities, both military and civil;
Inmarsat Government Global, led on an interim basis by Ronald Spithout, focusing on worldwide (ie non-US) civil and military government opportunities;
Inmarsat Enterprise, led by Ronald Spithout, focusing on worldwide enterprise, energy, media, carriers, commercial aviation and M2M opportunities.

These new global business units will be supported by a new group, Commercial Services & Support, which will provide cross-business unit services such as customer support, product and service management, channel development, commercial management and marketing communications.

The Stratos, Segovia, and Ship Equip operations are now providing their services within the relevant business units, and will use the ‘Inmarsat’ brand name.

Stratos, a global provider of mobile and fixed satellite communications solutions and one of Inmarsat’s two largest distributors, was acquired by Inmarsat in April 2009; Segovia, acquired by Inmarsat in January 2010, provides secure end-to-end communication solutions in support of the US government strategic and tactical initiatives worldwide; Ship Equip, which provides VSAT maritime communications services to the shipping, offshore oil & gas and fishing markets, was acquired by Inmarsat in April 2011.

Despite the alignment of the Inmarsat group’s direct and indirect sales activities into business units, Inmarsat does not intend to change its policy of distributing its services primarily through independent channel partners, comprised of its network of distribution partners and service providers with whom Inmarsat has worked successfully over many years. The Inmarsat restructure is expected to provide further support to independent channel partners through greater coordination between Inmarsat and its channel partners.

“Inmarsat has been delivering mission-critical satellite communications services for customers who operate beyond the reach of terrestrial networks for more than three decades,” said Rupert Pearce, CEO, Inmarsat. “We have led the mobile satellite services market as a wholesale organisation. This restructure will build on that by bringing us closer to our partners and customers, making us more responsive to their needs and more efficient in the delivery of our services.

“It streamlines our decision-making process and focuses our activities on the primary markets we serve. It enables us to fully leverage our end-to-end capability – from managing the satellite network, to delivering solutions to end users through our highly-motivated channel partners who add global reach and value-added services to our core service proposition.

“Our goal is to grow Inmarsat’s overall business through both direct and indirect channels. We are committed to continue working with our high-performing independent channel partners who can differentiate themselves with sector knowledge and experience. By minimising the overlap between the Inmarsat businesses, we can better target our investment into market development activities that benefit our entire distribution channel.”

Stratos is First Inmarsat Distribution Partner to Reach 2,000 IsatPhone Pro Activations

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:39:00 GMT

--New handheld satellite phone service is now available with Stratos ChatCard--

Bethesda, Maryland (January 19, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has reached a milestone of 2,000 IsatPhone Pro activations. Stratos is the first Inmarsat Distribution Partner to reach this sales milestone for the popular handheld satellite phone.

The 2,000th activation was managed by StratosELITE Partner Tesacom for the Brazilian Army. The Army’s First Division is deploying the IsatPhone Pro to ensure dependable voice connectivity during its response to the recent flood disaster in a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state.

Inmarsat’s new IsatPhone Pro is the first product in the Inmarsat Global Satellite Phone Services (GSPS) family. Among the first 2,000 Stratos activations are first responders, journalists, oil & gas workers and government officials worldwide who require reliable, high-quality voice connectivity in the most remote locations. A circuit-switched data service at 2.4 kbps will be available on the IsatPhone Pro by the end of this quarter.

IsatPhone Pro from Stratos also is now available with Stratos ChatCard for affordable pre-paid calling. Stratos ChatCard is ideally suited for personal crew calling and for companies with fixed operational budgets.

Customers using the IsatPhone Pro from Stratos benefit from The Stratos Advantage, a wide range of value-added services that ensure optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. The foundation of The Stratos Advantage is Stratos Dashboard, which enables customers to manage their use of satellite airtime by providing real-time information on voice and data traffic used, with associated costs.

Stratos Dashboard further enhances the user experience of the IsatPhone Pro by providing instant provisioning, as well as rebilling and reporting options to minimize unexpected invoices and potential financial risk. Stratos Dashboard supports both postpaid and prepaid rate-plan options.

To further enhance the IsatPhone Pro’s ability to contribute to business efficiency, Stratos now is successfully testing its AmosConnect maritime communications application on the platform. AmosConnect from Stratos is expected to enable IsatPhone Pro users to manage all email, SMS and interoffice communications.

“Our global facilities and our network of more than 400 Channel Partners have been working overtime to meet orders for the IsatPhone Pro from every corner of the world,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “As expected, a wide range of professionals understand that this affordable, reliable service can help them ensure optimal productivity and safety. They also appreciate our ability to activate their service quickly and support it with innovative value-added services to ensure the best possible performance.”

Tesacom CEO José Sanchez Elia said, “We are working closely with Stratos to meet the growing demand for the IsatPhone Pro from all regions in South America. Once activated, we notice customers value the product’s ease of use, as well as how The Stratos Advantage services help them efficiently manage the solution.” He added, “Customers are selecting us as their source for the IsatPhone Pro because they appreciate our local stock of the product, as well as our experienced support professionals in each country who understand their critical applications.”

Inmarsat GSPS’ full global coverage is made possible by the latest-generation Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellites, which are among the world’s largest and most advanced communications satellites. The I-4s were designed with IP communications in mind and are optimized to deliver high-quality and dependable data communications, well into the 2020s.

About Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos
Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos offers a competitive alternative to the handheld, fixed and maritime phone solutions now available in the marketplace. The services offer high-quality voice connectivity via small, affordable equipment – ideal for remote workers in the energy, mining, government, media and first-responder communities. More information is available at www.stratosglobal.com/isatphonepro.

About Stratos ChatCards
Stratos ChatCards provide an affordable means of separating postpaid/business traffic from private calls. Stratos ChatCards are available for all Stratos services, including IsatPhone Pro, FleetBroadband, BGAN, mini-M, Fleet, and Inmarsat B. The Stratos ChatCard service is not available for calls originating from the United States. Physical Stratos ChatCards also are not available for purchase in the United States.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos Dashboard is used by many Stratos customers who deploy Inmarsat BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband mobile broadband satellite services. Stratos Dashboard also is widely used worldwide by customers deploying Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos. The Stratos Advantage value-added services provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. More information on The Stratos Advantage is available at www.stratosglobal.com.

About Tesacom
Tesacom is South America’s leading provider of remote telecommunications solutions, serving more than 8,500 customers in the government, maritime, oil & gas, agriculture, first responder, mining, transportation and military markets. With offices and regulatory compliance in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Panamá, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, Tesacom offers a wide range of integrated communications solutions, including satellite voice & data and text messaging. The Company also offers a full range of value-added applications, including network integration, asset tracking and control, automatic vehicle location, vessel monitoring, dispatch and logistics control, and ECDIS & G-ECDIS integration for civil and military maritime applications. Tesacom provides 24x7 customer support in Spanish, Portuguese and English. Please, visit www.tesacom.net for more information.

Stratos Introduces BGAN Humanitarian Pricing Plans for First Responders

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:31:00 GMT

--New plans offer first responders flexible pricing options for satellite airtime--

Bethesda, Maryland (February 1, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the immediate availability of its new BGAN Humanitarian Pricing plans. The plans offer first responders flexible pricing options for Inmarsat BGAN satellite communications service.

“Most first-responder organizations have sufficient local-office budgets for the purchase of BGAN terminals. During emergency events, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, their satellite airtime is paid by central funds from the agency’s headquarters,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “Our new Humanitarian Pricing plans provide greater flexibility that helps these organizations afford satellite airtime for important BGAN training and testing applications that occur outside of event periods.”

Inmarsat BGAN Humanitarian Pricing is available in a variety of formats. Stratos plans are among the most attractive, as they offer a monthly paid option under an annual commitment. This enables humanitarian organizations to utilize their monthly operating-expense budgets for airtime fees, while using the BGAN airtime allowance at any time during the annual period. The Stratos plans are available for groups with as few as 10 BGAN units.

BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) uses highly portable, lightweight terminals to provide simultaneous, high-speed IP data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world.

In addition to thousands of media organizations, military agencies, energy companies and remote professionals, many first responders utilize BGAN from Stratos for communications in areas where terrestrial or cellular networks are damaged, congested or non-existent. Those first responders include the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. First responders deploying BGAN make full use of Stratos’ value-added services known as The Stratos Advantage, which enable them to monitor airtime, restrict unauthorized usage, and manage costs.

Parm concluded, “By combining our flexible Humanitarian Pricing plans with the effective management of Stratos Dashboard to control BGAN costs, Stratos offers first responders the world’s most economical BGAN solution available.”

First-responder organizations can learn more about BGAN Humanitarian Pricing by contacting their Stratos account manager. These new pricing plans are available to first-responder organizations and humanitarian agencies on an individual basis and are subject to prior Inmarsat approval.

About BGAN from Stratos
Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos is one of the world’s largest BGAN distributors, with more than 14,000 BGAN activations in 185 countries. 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 a full range of IP options. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

BGAN from Stratos Enables Broadcasters to Cover Egyptian Political Crisis

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:09:00 GMT

--The BBC, Fox News, others deploy BGAN for uninterrupted coverage of news events--

Bethesda, Maryland (February 10, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been providing integrated media solutions that are enabling many of the world’s largest news organizations to broadcast ongoing coverage of the Egyptian political crisis. The solutions include Inmarsat BGAN mobile broadband satellite services with GuaranteedAccess managed end-to-end IP network connectivity.

These organizations began broadcasting reports of the crisis from Cairo and other Egyptian cities on January 25th. Days later, the Egyptian government shut down all terrestrial Internet connectivity and mobile phone service. BGAN enabled these broadcasters to continue newsgathering in Egypt and transmitting live reports to their studios, without interruption.

BGAN from Stratos streaming services are being used by the BBC, Fox News and others for live video streaming from the protest sites. The broadcasters also are using BGAN for Internet connectivity, store-and-forward video clips, and audio streaming for radio broadcast.

All BGAN traffic from these organizations is routed via the Stratos global IP network, known as StratosNexus, into the broadcasters’ studios worldwide.

As it did for last year’s Haitian disaster, Stratos is continually monitoring its BGAN network and StratosNexus during this period of heightened usage in Egypt – and is providing frequent status reports to its media customers. Inmarsat also is taking measures to ensure the usual high level of availability and reliability of its Inmarsat-4 satellite network during this crisis.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “Major news events like these, under seemingly impossible conditions, remind the world’s top broadcasters of the indispensible nature of BGAN and the reliability of the Stratos network. The Stratos team remains available around the clock, to help our customers ensure optimal performance and efficiency from any imaginable location.”

BGAN from Stratos enables media organizations to perform at optimal levels at any remote location. Journalists can effectively use BGAN services with minimal training. The premium BGAN X-Stream service allows a guaranteed minimum symmetrical video streaming rate of 384 kbps, with up to 450 kbps expected under optimal conditions. Today’s announcement is the latest example of how Stratos has helped many of the world’s largest media organizations benefit from BGAN X-Stream since the service was launched in 2009.

For these events, news organizations make full use of Stratos’ value-added services known as The Stratos Advantage, which enable customers to monitor airtime, restrict unauthorized usage and manage costs. The organizations also achieve guaranteed, end-to-end bandwidth for their time-critical data with a Stratos GuaranteedAccess solution custom designed by Stratos engineers.

Stratos GuaranteedAccess extends guaranteed bandwidth from the BGAN terminal through to the terrestrial infrastructure to broadcast centers. Stratos GuaranteedAccess is enabled by StratosNexus, a Stratos-managed Global Core network for traditional and IP-based services. StratosNexus is a redundant and highly resilient network, designed and optimized to carry time-sensitive satellite traffic.

About BGAN from Stratos
Stratos is one of the world’s largest distributors of Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 14,500 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

R&M Energy Selects Stratos for BGAN-Based SCADA Network

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:40:00 GMT

--Network provides dependable monitoring and control to remote sites worldwide--

Bethesda, Maryland (February 22, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by R&M Energy Systems (R&M) to deploy a global SCADA network based on Inmarsat’s BGAN mobile broadband satellite service. Stratos was selected by R&M through Stratos Channel Partner Galaxy 1 Communications.

R&M, based near Houston, is one of the leading providers of closures, valves, drilling components and artificial lift systems for the global oil and gas industry. Deployment of R&M’s new BGAN SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) network expanded last month to include all of R&M’s key operating regions. Network deployment is expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year, with new deployments coming online as needed.

The custom-designed network utilizes BGAN satellite terminals to reliably transmit operational data from oil pumps and other mission-critical equipment in remote areas not accessible by R&M’s traditional monitoring infrastructure. The BGAN SCADA network is fully integrated with R&M’s control and monitoring platform. It provides IP connectivity to field equipment via the Internet or a private VPN network.

R&M’s future plans include monitoring automated choke valves and other active and passive equipment. In the past, R&M’s customers did not have the ability or capacity to capture and present operational data from that equipment in an economical manner. As a manufacturer of pumping equipment for oil and gas, industrial and municipal markets, it is important for R&M to provide its customers with a single, integrated solution that is supported by the pump manufacturer.

BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) uses small, lightweight terminals to provide simultaneous, high-speed IP data and voice connectivity anywhere in the world.

“The ability to provide our customers with these remote monitoring and control capabilities is extremely valuable,” said R&M Product Champion for Automation and Control Michael Smith. “It enables them to allocate limited resources to address the most critical issues first. Having up-to-the minute telemetry on equipment and remote diagnostics allows our customers to dispatch the right equipment and personnel to resolve problems as quickly as possible.”

Smith added, “With Stratos’ dependable BGAN SCADA service, we benefit from a single-source, universal solution that works anywhere and is easy to use. This eliminates the need to engage multiple local providers in dozens of different regions.”

This BGAN SCADA network relies on Stratos Dashboard to enable optimal network productivity and affordability by providing real-time traffic reports, cost control and online provisioning for new terminals. Stratos Dashboard is the foundation of The Stratos Advantage portfolio of value-added services.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “Our BGAN SCADA service has become the ideal remote-connectivity solution for some of the world’s leading energy-services companies. It is gratifying to meet a critical need for R&M and to help them provide superior customer service.”

Parm added, “This latest deployment strengthens our position as the preferred provider of creative SCADA solutions to support the demanding global networking requirements of many of the world’s most important markets – including upstream oil and gas, utilities, mining, water-management and tower-monitoring.”

This BGAN SCADA network uses Hughes 9201-M2M Satellite IP SCADA Terminals, a specially engineered Class 1 compact BGAN terminal enclosed in a protective housing. The terminals are designed for permanent, fixed-site deployment and 24x7 network connectivity in the harsh environments associated with remote SCADA networks.

About BGAN SCADA from Stratos
The BGAN SCADA service supports applications for data collection and monitoring of remote assets – including utility substations and oil or gas pipelines. The BGAN SCADA service uses the reliable Inmarsat I4 satellites operating in the L-band frequency, which are proven to withstand rain fade and other environmental factors. A BGAN-based SCADA network also may serve as the perfect complement to DataSat II from Stratos, the Company’s Ku-band, VSAT-based SCADA service. The 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 across the United States.

About BGAN from Stratos
Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos is one of the world’s largest BGAN distributors, with more than 14,000 BGAN activations in 185 countries. 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 a full range of IP options. Also, StratosNexus offers a secure and managed last-mile solution for SCADA traffic through global Stratos Points of Presence (POPs). More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About R&M Energy Systems
More than 60 years of reliable field service has made R&M Energy Systems an industry leader in designing, manufacturing and servicing closures and valves for vessel manufacturers and pipeline construction companies. R&M is a unit of Robbins & Myers, Inc. (NYSE: RBN). For more information, visit www.rmenergy.com.

Hapag-Lloyd is First to Deploy Stratos' New FBBPlus Managed Broadband Service

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:59:00 GMT

--New service combines FleetBroadband with VSAT for flat monthly fee--

Bethesda, Maryland (February 23, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the commercial availability of FBBPlus, its managed global broadband service for the maritime industry.

Stratos’ innovative FBBPlus solution offers shipping companies a highly flexible migration path toward Inmarsat’s Global Xpress 50Mbps services, which is expected to be commercially available in 2014.

FBBPlus combines Inmarsat’s popular FleetBroadband satellite communications service with Ku-band VSAT service. For a flat monthly fee, FBBPlus offers a managed data communications capability of up to 25 GB per month.

The turnkey service offering, predictable cost, and high data allowance make FBBPlus ideally suited for global shipping companies that are customizing their own network environment and require greater throughputs and bandwidth.

Stratos recently began deploying FBBPlus on approximately 40 vessels for Hapag-Lloyd, under a five-year contract. Hapag-Lloyd, based in Hamburg, is one of the world’s largest shipping companies and is recognized as having developed one of the shipping industry’s most advanced IT systems.

For Hapag-Lloyd, Stratos is fully integrating FBBPlus with AmosConnect – Stratos’ sophisticated maritime communications application – to manage all email, fax, SMS and interoffice communications. Also, The Stratos Advantage suite of value-added services will help Hapag-Lloyd attain the highest possible FBBPlus performance, security and cost control.

The FBBPlus service successfully meets the increasing data requirements of shipping companies. It offers the highly reliable FleetBroadband service with the capability and capacity of Ku-band VSAT within high-density shipping areas.

FBBPlus is the only service that delivers a managed MPLS extension network over separate L-band and Ku-band networks, delivering resilient and redundant paths. The MPLS network separates and logically manages business, crew and non-essential traffic – while delivering high-quality voice communications via the highly efficient Inmarsat circuit-switched network.

“Hapag-Lloyd is impressed by our ability to offer a flexible, fully managed broadband service. Because FBBPlus is based on FleetBroadband, Hapag-Lloyd is confident that it will help them meet their business goals and provide their ships with optimal performance and reliability at all times,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm.

Parm concluded, “As the world’s leading FleetBroadband distributor, we understand the demand for higher volumes of data to support critical applications and business communications onboard – along with the increasing need to support crew with Internet-based services. Our creative FBBPlus solution demonstrates that we are perfectly positioned to expand our customers’ communications capabilities as we prepare for the availability Inmarsat’s Global Xpress services.”

About FBBPlus
FBBPlus offers shipping companies a highly flexible migration path toward Inmarsat’s Global Xpress 50Mbps services, which will be commercially available in 2014. FBBPlus combines Inmarsat’s popular FleetBroadband satellite communications service with Ku-band VSAT service. For a flat monthly fee, FBBPlus offers a managed data communications capability of up to 25 GB per month.

Stratos has activated more than 7,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FBBPlus and FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FBBPlus from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FBBPlus from Stratos is elevated far above baseline services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FBBPlus from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager.

About Hapag-Lloyd
Based in Hamburg, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s largest shipping companies, employing more than 6,900 professionals at 300 locations in 114 countries. The Company operates more than 130 modern ships and transports nearly five million containers annually. For more information, please visit www.hapag-lloyd.com.

Germany's Fairplay Towage Selects FleetBroadband from Stratos for Deep-Sea Tugboats

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:40:00 GMT

--Stratos recognized for greatest contribution to FleetBroadband sales growth in 2010--

Bethesda, Maryland (March 11, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is deploying the Inmarsat FleetBroadband satellite communications service on six deep-sea tugboats in Fairplay Towage’s fleet. Deployment on four of the vessels already has been completed.

Based in Hamburg, Fairplay Towage is one of Europe’s leading tugboat operators in the ports of Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Rostock, Wismar, Szczecin and Swinoujscie. Its fleet includes 27 modern vessels for harbor, coastal and deep-sea towage.

The Fairplay Towage contract is the latest example of Stratos’ successful deployment of FleetBroadband on a wide range of vessel types across all major geographic regions. Stratos has activated more than 6,700 FleetBroadband terminals and was recognized as the Inmarsat Distribution Partner making the greatest contribution to FleetBroadband global sales growth in 2010.

By ensuring reliable broadband connectivity at sea, FleetBroadband from Stratos will help Fairplay Towage achieve optimal vessel performance, improved business operations and increased crew productivity.

For Fairplay Towage, Stratos fully integrated FleetBroadband with AmosConnect 8 – Stratos’ sophisticated maritime communications application – to improve management of all interoffice communications.

Fairplay Towage also improves crew welfare by deploying Stratos’ AmosConnect Crew CommCenter. The solution enables personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via calling, private email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates. The solution’s high functionality helps retain qualified seafarers. The application features an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember. Fairplay Towage expects to deploy the Internet café functionality of the latest version of AmosConnect Crew CommCenter later this year.

To attain the highest possible FleetBroadband performance, security and cost control, Fairplay Towage makes full use of The Stratos Advantage suite of value-added services.

“FleetBroadband enables us to achieve faster data transmission and better voice quality than the legacy systems we previously used – at a lower cost. The system helps us improve business management by increasing the performance of many of the IP-based applications we already deploy,” said Fairplay Towage’s Information Technology Manager Thomas Wesselski. “Also, the wide range of Stratos value-added services – including onboard firewall and online invoicing – help ensure high security and strict cost control.”

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “As with other shipping companies, progressive towage operators are continually seeking the most advanced communications systems to maximize applications, reduce costs and improve crew welfare. With this FleetBroadband deployment, we look forward to helping Fairplay Towage use our expanding range of new applications to maintain high operating efficiency and a competitive advantage.”

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About Fairplay Towage
Founded in 1905, the Fairplay Towage group of companies is mainly engaged in the towage industry, with offices in Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Rostock, Wismar, Szczecin and Swinoujscie. In addition to harbor towage, which is the origin of Fairplay Towage’s business, the Company also is involved in deep-sea towage, offshore support and salvage works. For more information, please visit www.fairplay-towage.com.

Stratos Government Services is Awarded FCSA Contract

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:35:00 GMT

Washington, DC, March 14, 2011 – Stratos Government Services Inc. (SGSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc, today announced it has been awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule 70 FCSA contract to provide commercial satellite communications (COMSATCOM) products and services to the U.S. Government.

The FCSA (Future COMSATCOM Services Acquisition) award enables U.S. Dept. of Defense (DoD) and federal agencies to directly access the secure Stratos Government Network (SGN). SGN is designed specifically for U.S. Government users of Inmarsat mobile satellite services.

SGN is an Information Assurance (IA)-compliant commercial architecture – operated by U.S. personnel – that military users can rely upon to minimize OPSEC exposure while deploying Inmarsat services to fulfill mission objectives on the ground, at sea and in the air. SGSI is the only Inmarsat Distribution Partner to offer this type of network. Government end-users now can access the SGN directly or through SGSI Channel Partners.

“Our portfolio of mobile satellite solutions is designed to meet the U.S. Government’s IA and readiness requirements,” said SGSI President and CEO Bob Roe. “The FCSA award provides a contract to access these services quickly and improves mission readiness and security. Direct access to the SGN provides our customers with a wider range of integrated commercial satcom solutions, at the industry’s most competitive prices.”

FCSA is jointly managed by the GSA and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and replaces the expiring DSTS-G, Inmarsat DITCO and SATCOM-II contracts.

Using GSA Special Item Numbers (SINs) established specifically for satellite communications, SGSI now can offer satellite hardware, engineering services, technology services, transponded bandwidth and managed subscription services as follows: Hardware SIN 132-8 (Inmarsat and Iridium); Maintenance Support SIN 132-12; and Subscribed Services SIN 132-55 (Inmarsat and Iridium).

About Stratos Government Services Inc.
SGSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc. Founded in 2006 and based in Washington, DC, SGSI is dedicated to serving U.S. DoD customers as well as federal and state government agencies. SGSI is a single-source integrator of multiple commercial satellite technologies. On a global basis, SGSI provides airtime, hardware, installation, network engineering and management, customer support and value-added services. For more information, please visit www.stratosgsi.com.

IsatPhone Pro from Stratos Now Available with Data Capability and AmosConnect 8.2

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:45:00 GMT

--New version of maritime communications platform enhances data connectivity on handheld satellite phone--

Bethesda, Maryland (April 20, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced that data service on Inmarsat’s popular new IsatPhone Pro handheld satellite phone is now available with Stratos’ recently released AmosConnect 8.2 communications application.

IsatPhone Pro’s new circuit-switched global data capability of 2.4 kbps enables users to access emails, jpegs, documents or PDFs. The compression capability inherent in AmosConnect 8.2 enables transmission speeds of more than 20 kbps for certain file types.

Since managing the first-ever IsatPhone Pro activation in July 2010, Stratos has activated more than 4,000 of the units for first responders, journalists, oil & gas workers and government officials worldwide who require reliable, high-quality voice connectivity in the most remote locations.

AmosConnect 8.2 was customized with IsatPhone Pro in mind. It enables users to seamlessly integrate email, SMS and interoffice communications into a single messaging system. AmosConnect is one of only two communications applications now accredited by Inmarsat for use with IsatPhone Pro.

In addition to optimizing the performance of IsatPhone Pro, AmosConnect 8.2 enhances broadband IP-based maritime satellite services that include FleetBroadband, Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek. Integration with these services enables users to control their sessions and ensure optimal airtime use directly from AmosConnect.

The AmosConnect 8.2 portal brings all ship-relevant data to one central information page. The sending of reports and the receipt of weather updates and company news can be achieved within the same interface. With this new version, all service settings are remotely configurable from a central office. This functionality greatly reduces implementation and support time.

New in AmosConnect 8.2 is the ability to automatically register a Basic license, which features one free mailbox. This new feature is extremely powerful in combination with the new IsatPhone Pro data service, as it enables fast and easy deployment of large numbers of field users with voice, SMS and email capabilities.

The integration of AmosConnect 8.2 with IsatPhone Pro exemplifies the benefits that Stratos customers receive from The Stratos Advantage, a wide range of value-added services that ensure optimal communications performance and cost efficiency.

The foundation of The Stratos Advantage is Stratos Dashboard, which enables customers to manage their use of satellite airtime by providing real-time information on voice and data traffic used, with associated costs. Stratos Dashboard further enhances the user experience of IsatPhone Pro by providing instant provisioning, as well as rebilling and reporting options to minimize unexpected invoices and potential financial risk. Stratos Dashboard supports both postpaid and prepaid rate-plan options.

“It is very gratifying to work with our network of more than 400 Channel Partners to bring the reliability and high performance of IsatPhone Pro to more than 4,000 customers worldwide,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “We are confident that our customers will fully utilize the service’s new data capabilities. We also know they will appreciate how the integration of IsatPhone Pro with AmosConnect 8.2 enables optimal productivity and safety.”

About Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos
Inmarsat’s new IsatPhone Pro is the first product in the Inmarsat Global Satellite Phone Services (GSPS) family. Inmarsat GSPS’ full global coverage is made possible by the latest-generation Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellites, which are among the world’s largest and most advanced communications satellites. The I-4s were designed with IP communications in mind and are optimized to deliver high-quality and dependable data communications, well into the 2020s.

Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos offers a competitive alternative to the handheld, fixed and maritime phone solutions now available in the marketplace. The services offer high-quality voice and data connectivity via small, affordable equipment – ideal for remote workers in the energy, mining, government, media and first-responder communities. More information is available at www.stratosglobal.com/isatphonepro.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos Dashboard is used by many Stratos customers who deploy Inmarsat BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband mobile broadband satellite services. Stratos Dashboard also is widely used worldwide by customers deploying Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos. The Stratos Advantage value-added services provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. More information on The Stratos Advantage is available at www.stratosglobal.com.

BGAN from Stratos Connectivity Plays Vital Role in Expanding Archaeological Study in Remote Mongolia

Thu, 05 May 2011 08:41:00 GMT

--National Geographic-supported project searches for tomb of Genghis Khan, with help of virtual explorers worldwide--

Bethesda, Maryland (May 5, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has continued its support of the world-renowned survey that is identifying archaeological sites in Genghis Khan’s homeland – Mongolia’s most sacred heritage area.

During the expedition’s second phase, completed last summer, Stratos supplied Inmarsat BGAN mobile satellite communications service to researchers as they used digital imagery to search for archaeological sites in the remote valley of the ancient Mongolian empire. Stratos equipment supplier ViaSat also continued its support by donating its VRT-100 rugged BGAN terminal for this project.

The Valley of the Khans (VOTK) research project (http://exploration.nationalgeographic.com/), supported by the joint National Geographic Society/Waitt Grants Program, is led by University of California San Diego research associate Albert Yu-Min Lin, Ph.D. Dr. Lin initiated this project in 2009 using a new, non-invasive scientific approach.

The project is performing a non-destructive archaeological search, utilizing modern digital tools from a variety of disciplines, including digital imagery, computer vision, non-destructive surveying, and on-site digital archaeology.

Expanded Expedition Uses Human Computation Component

The 2010 VOTK expedition, utilizing twice as many professionals as the 2009 inaugural search, was expanded to include a search area of 3,000 kilometres. This expansion was made possible by using satellite imaging and an innovative Human Computation toolkit.

BGAN from Stratos made it possible for the 2010 VOTK expedition to deploy the Human Computation toolkit. Before entering a new region, the team would use its BGAN connection to enable members of the general public to serve as “virtual explorers” online to help search through and tag GeoEye-1 satellite imagery of the region in which the team was operating.

Each morning, the team would again use its BGAN connection to download annotations provided by virtual explorers – then use those annotations to direct its ground search. This application enabled the team to significantly increase its search area and deploy a multi-stage approach to discovery, including: satellite imagery; aerial imagery; and geomagnetic surveys such as ground-penetrating radar and electro-magnetometers.

“The expansion of our expedition would have been impossible without BGAN from Stratos,” said Dr. Lin. “BGAN provided us with reliable voice and data connectivity in one of the world’s most remote regions. This helped us maintain the highest levels of safety and productivity while in the field. In addition to the human computation toolkit, we used BGAN for photo transmission, blogging and to secure critical medical consultations from the field.”

The research team now is analyzing its field data and expects to announce its results by the end of this year. The VOTK search seeks to locate archaeological sites from the period of Genghis Khan without disturbing them, thus shedding light on Mongolia’s rich historical heritage and enabling conservation and education in this rapidly changing landscape. The search maintains respect for local customs while enabling protective measures through organizations such as UNESCO. The VOTK research project was one of National Geographic Adventure magazine’s 2010 Adventures of the Year.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “It is gratifying to know that our continued contribution of BGAN is helping support pioneering research that is of vast historical significance. This is the latest demonstration of BGAN’s effectiveness in the world’s harshest, most remote environments.”

Those seeking more information on the Valley of the Khans or crowdsourcing technology can contact the project team at votk@tomnod.com.

About BGAN from Stratos
Stratos is one of the world’s largest distributors of Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 15,000 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

The Shipping Corporation of India Selects Stratos to Deploy FleetBroadband on 156-Ship Fleet

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

--FleetBroadband and AmosConnect from Stratos increase productivity, control costs--

Bethesda, Maryland (May 18, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) to deploy the Inmarsat FleetBroadband satellite communications service as part of an integrated maritime communications solution that will help the operator increase productivity and control costs. Stratos was selected by SCI through Stratos Channel Partner Station Satcom (Mumbai; www.stationsatcom.com).

Based in Mumbai, SCI is India’s largest shipping company, with an expansive fleet that operates globally and includes tankers, bulk carriers, liners and supply vessels.

In addition to deployment of FleetBroadband on the entire fleet of 156 ships owned and managed by SCI, the Stratos solution includes: upgrades to AmosConnect 8, Stratos’ sophisticated new maritime communications software; upgrades to crew communications via Stratos’ new AmosConnect CommCenter application; and deployment of Blue Ocean Wireless (BOW) GSM service.

“In our ongoing mission to ensure optimal business efficiency, crew productivity and cost control, we understand the critical importance of broadband connectivity,” said Kailash Gupta, SCI’s director, personnel and administration. By offering an integrated approach that combines the reliability of FleetBroadband with advanced applications and other value-added services, Stratos has proven it is ideally suited to meet our needs.”

Gupta added, “The use of AmosConnect 8 to improve our interoffice communications is especially advantageous, as it meets the requirements of the new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Planned Maintenance Systems we are implementing throughout our company. Also, we expect AmosConnect Crew CommCenter to positively impact the quality of private, controlled communications that we offer to our seafarers and officers.”

Station Satcom CEO Anshul Khanna said, “As service provider to SCI for the past six years, it has been very gratifying to see SCI’s applications evolve from SAT-C, text-based communication to a fully integrated ERP system that provides constant mirroring of information between vessels and corporate offices onshore. It has been a privilege to help SCI achieve these advances by deploying the very latest, high-performance satcom systems.”

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “The decision to undertake a comprehensive communications upgrade is a daunting task for any operator. We will continue to honor the confidence that SCI has shown in our abilities by implementing the industry’s most effective solutions – and by consistently providing the highest levels of customer support.”

BOW GSM Service is a dedicated GSM service for crewmembers and officers of merchant ships. It is the first service – using Inmarsat satellites – enabling seafarers to utilize their existing mobile phones onboard merchant ships in deep ocean waters, exactly as they would in port or on land.

AmosConnect 8 integrates vessel and shore-based office applications. It is an easy-to-use, yet highly sophisticated application that seamlessly integrates email, fax, telex, GSM text, interoffice communication, and access for mobile personnel into a single messaging system. The AmosConnect 8 portal brings all ship-relevant data to one central information page.

AmosConnect Crew CommCenter improves crew welfare by enabling personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via calling, private email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates. The solution’s high functionality helps retain qualified seafarers. The application features an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember. SCI expects to deploy the Internet café functionality of the latest version of AmosConnect Crew CommCenter later this year.

These applications and others comprise The Stratos Advantage, a range of value-added services that provides ship managers with optimal communications performance and cost efficiency.

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.
Established in 1961, SCI is India’s largest shipping company. SCI’s owned fleet of 79 ships includes bulk carriers, crude oil tankers, product tankers, container vessels, passenger-cum-cargo vessels, chemical carriers and offshore supply vessels. SCI also has substantial interests in various segments of the shipping trade. SCI is a government of India enterprise. For more information, please visit www.shipindia.com.

Stratos Nears Completion of FleetBroadband Deployment on 55 Vessels for Harren & Partner

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

--With deployment completed on dozens of vessels, H&P is benefiting from improved communications performance and cost reduction--

Bethesda, Maryland (May 19, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is nearing completion of its deployment of the Inmarsat FleetBroadband satellite communications service on 55 commercial vessels for Harren & Partner Ship Management GmbH & Co. KG (H&P).

Based in Bremen, Germany, H&P is a large European shipping company with a global fleet including bulkers, tankers, feeders, heavy-lift carriers, container vessels and dock ships. FleetBroadband from Stratos already has been successfully deployed on 40 H&P vessels. Deployment on 15 additional vessels will be completed in the coming months. The service also will be deployed on new vessels that H&P expects to build in 2012.

FleetBroadband from Stratos provides H&P with broadband connectivity while at sea – for email, Internet access and voice communications – ensuring optimal vessel performance, business operations and crew productivity. The deployment includes accounting authority and point-of-activation services from Stratos. As an added benefit, this agreement provides H&P with recently announced lower FleetBroadband voice rates of 55 cents per minute.

This deployment for H&P includes the full range of The Stratos Advantage value-added services for which Stratos has become well known. Those services – which are ensuring that H&P attains the highest possible FleetBroadband performance, security and cost control – include:

--The online Stratos Dashboard, which provides H&P with cost and traffic control, firewall management and many other benefits.

--AmosConnect, Stratos’ sophisticated communications application, to manage all interoffice communications and improve monitoring of Whitelist and Blacklist changes. Stratos also provided H&P with its own private email domain for this network.

--Stratos’ new AmosConnect Crew CommCenter that enables seafarers to stay in contact with home via calling, private email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates – while enjoying true onboard Internet café features, such as prepaid chatting, prepaid web browsing and access to global and local news services.

--Stratos ChatCards for crew calling, which have contributed to higher H&P crew satisfaction by providing easy billing and ordering.

To enhance Internet security for this network, Stratos also implemented an encrypted Virtual Private Network (VPN) via IPSec between its Land Earth Station in Burum, The Netherlands and H&P’s corporate office in Bremen. H&P makes full use of the encrypted VPN’s remote dial-in option from Bremen to all its vessels, which provides direct access to each FleetBroadband terminal, the system’s firewall and the captain’s computer system.

“In the design and implementation of this FleetBroadband network, Stratos demonstrated its ability to customize an advanced system to our precise requirements,” said Caspar Graf von Spee, H&P Director. “We appreciate being able to secure this type of comprehensive solution – including new terminals, airtime, cost-containment applications, remote-access tools, our own email domain and encrypted VPN tunnel – from a single provider.”

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “Our solution for H&P is an excellent example of Stratos creativity and precision implementation. Our ability to provide convenient FleetBroadband Bundles eliminated H&P’s need for capital investment in hardware. It is rewarding to see how our integrated solution is enabling H&P to benefit from the latest communications technology in the most cost-effective manner possible.”

For H&P, this FleetBroadband system provides an optimal data connection for numerous other onboard applications, including planned maintenance systems, purchase systems and remote management – which allows H&P headquarters personnel to manage the ship’s computers without visiting the vessel.

With FleetBroadband, H&P now has the capability to achieve high-performance, direct remote access to the ship’s computer terminals, the FleetBroadband terminal and the onboard firewall via popular remote-support applications. In the future, H&P has the option to use FleetBroadband for engine-performance analysis and emissions monitoring, to help reduce fuel costs and comply with emissions regulations.

In addition to its commercial vessels, H&P deploys FleetBroadband on its 48m motoryacht Hanse Explorer. Earlier this year, H&P provided Hanse Explorer to the non-governmental organization Oceana (http://eu.oceana.org/en). Oceana is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation, protecting marine ecosystems and endangered species. During a two-month research expedition in the Baltic Sea, a flat-fee FleetBroadband service from Stratos provided the Oceana with reliable high-speed data connectivity for a wide range of business and crew applications.

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
Stratos has activated more than 8,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

About Harren & Partner
Founded in 1989 and operating from the city of Bremen, H&P’s business includes ship ownership and comprehensive ship management. For more information, please visit www.harren-partner.de.

Stratos Introduces Inmarsat XpressLink Managed Broadband Service for Commercial Shipping Companies

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 08:49:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (July 7, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the commercial availability of Inmarsat XpressLink from Stratos, its newest managed global broadband service for the maritime industry.

Inmarsat XpressLink is the latest addition to Stratos’ maritime broadband portfolio. Inmarsat XpressLink from Stratos offers enhanced Ku-band coverage and bandwidth and leverages the global capabilities of FleetBroadband. Inmarsat XpressLink offers the only guaranteed upgrade path to Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band service. Global Xpress, which is expected to be commercially available in 2013, will deliver speeds of up to 50Mbps.

The new Inmarsat XpressLink service includes a guaranteed free hardware upgrade to Global Xpress. The turnkey managed service offers customers fixed cost and high data capability. This makes Inmarsat XpressLink ideally suited for global shipping companies that are customizing their own network environment and require greater throughputs and bandwidth.

With a suggested retail price of US$2,999 per month over 60 months, Inmarsat XpressLink from Stratos offers:

The Stratos Advantage value-added services that ensure customers attain the highest possible broadband performance, security and cost control;
Ku-band hardware, upgradeable to Ka-band;
FleetBroadband (FB500) hardware;
Ku bandwidth at 512kbps/512kbps;
A committed information rate (CIR) of 128kbps;
Inclusive FleetBroadband airtime where the VSAT service is not available, and;
Guaranteed double bandwidth upgrade on Global Xpress (1Mbps/1Mbps and 256kbps CIR).

As with other Stratos managed services, Inmarsat XpressLink from Stratos delivers a managed MPLS extension network over separate L-band and Ku-band networks, delivering resilient and redundant paths. The MPLS network separates and logically manages business, crew and non-essential traffic – while delivering high-quality voice communications via the highly efficient Inmarsat circuit-switched network.

“The world’s leading shipping companies need higher volumes of data to support critical applications and increased demand for crew communications. They demand expert consulting and ongoing support to adapt the latest broadband programs to their specific requirements,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “We are meeting those demands by bringing Inmarsat XpressLink managed IP services into our maritime broadband portfolio, which also includes FBBPlus and FleetBroadband Flat Fee plans.”

Parm concluded, “Our wide range of broadband solutions proves that we are ideally suited to help expand our customers’ communications capabilities, as we prepare for the availability of Inmarsat’s Global Xpress services.”

Growing Maritime Broadband Portfolio
Stratos continues to grow its maritime broadband portfolio to meet the increasing bandwidth demands of its customers. Inmarsat XpressLink is the latest addition. In February, Stratos introduced its FBBPlus service and began deploying it on approximately 40 vessels for Hapag-Lloyd, under a five-year contract. Stratos also has deployed FBBPlus for MISC Berhad, one of Malaysia’s largest international shipping lines.

In addition to Inmarsat XpressLink and FBBPlus, Stratos also offers FleetBroadband Flat Fee service packages. FleetBroadband Flat Fee packages include 10GB and 15GB data connectivity plans, in addition to highly competitive rates for voice calls. FleetBroadband Flat Fee packages offer the high performance, global coverage, simplicity and reliability of Inmarsat FleetBroadband – in addition to The Stratos Advantage value-added services – for a single, affordable monthly rate. FleetBroadband Flat Fee packages already have been deployed by Stratos Channel Partner Navarino Telecom for ship-management companies Grieg Shipping Group, OSM Ship Management and Ugland Marine Services.

Maritime customers can secure more information on Inmarsat XpressLink, FBBPlus and FleetBroadband Flat Fee solutions from Stratos by contacting their Stratos account manager or via info@stratosglobal.com.

About Inmarsat XpressLink from Stratos
XpressLink offers shipping companies a highly flexible migration path toward Inmarsat’s Global Xpress services, which are expected to be commercially available in 2013. XpressLink offers enhanced Ku-band coverage and bandwidth and leverages the global capabilities of FleetBroadband. For a flat monthly fee, XpressLink offers a managed data communications capability of up to 512Kbps, with 128Kbps CIR.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services also includes FleetBroadband, FBBPlus, Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

Inmarsat XpressLink Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, XpressLink is elevated far above baseline services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

Stratos Announces Availability of Iridium Extreme Satellite Phone

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:42:00 GMT

--Stratos also launches new mobile-phone tracking portal, fully integrated with Iridium Extreme--

Bethesda, Maryland (September 12, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the commercial availability of the new Iridium Extreme™ satellite phone. Stratos today will begin shipping Iridium Extreme from all of its warehouses worldwide. Stratos is one of the world’s largest Iridium service providers with nearly 50,000 Iridium subscribers around the globe.

The new Iridium Extreme is the latest addition to Stratos’ comprehensive line of satellite phone solutions, all of which are supported by The Stratos Advantage suite of value-added services.

The Iridium Extreme offers users a single, in-hand solution for voice, data, GPS, SOS, SMS and online tracking. It is the smallest, lightest Iridium handset ever and the first satellite phone to feature a dedicated, two-way emergency SOS button. It offers the ability to locate users anywhere on the surface of the planet. Iridium Extreme’s PIN-protected tracking function can be turned off for users who prefer not to share their location.

As an added benefit, Stratos today announced it also will be offering the Iridium AxcessPoint accessory, a lightweight, portable device that connects Iridium phones to smart phones, tablets and laptops to establish a Wi-Fi hotspot anywhere in the world – via Iridium’s global network. Iridium AxcessPoint is expected to be commercially available in the fourth quarter of this year.

Stratos Introduces New StratosTrax Tracking Portal
Stratos today also introduced StratosTrax, a new mobile-phone tracking portal that is now available to its Iridium Extreme customers. StratosTrax, which is expected to be commercially available by the end of this month for other devices, features fully integrated GPS and geofencing capabilities for web-based location identification and tracking of users.

StratosTrax is both device and medium agnostic, supporting satellite, GSM, 3G and radio devices. The new Iridium Extreme satellite phone will be among the first mobile devices supported by StratosTrax. Other devices include Iridium Short Burst Data units, Inmarsat Global Satellite Phone Services (GSPS) and Blackberry units.

StratosTrax features an intuitive, user-friendly interface that integrates Google mapping views in Map, Satellite, Hybrid and Terrain options. The portal also features a breadcrumb function that enables users to quickly trace their trail, with tracking-update intervals programmable from 15 seconds to one week.

Iridium Extreme is Optimized by The Stratos Advantage
Customers selecting Iridium Extreme from Stratos will benefit from a wide range of value-added services, known as The Stratos Advantage, to attain the highest possible performance, security and cost control. All Stratos Iridium customers can take full advantage of Stratos Dashboard for Iridium, a convenient application that enables users to manage and control their Iridium services online. Customers also can order and reload prepaid vouchers, as well as view traffic data for all their SIM cards. This provides Stratos Iridium customers with full control of their Iridium services and eliminates the time-consuming process of completing and submitting forms. As with all Stratos services, customers selecting Iridium Extreme from Stratos will benefit from a fully supported International Customer Care Center 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“Our launch of Iridium Extreme represents a major market innovation that will put powerful new satellite phone capabilities and applications in the hands of people everywhere,” said Iridium CEO Matt Desch. “As one of our largest distributors, Stratos is highly qualified to meet its important responsibilities in bringing this product to market. Our continued partnership with Stratos will help us maintain our excellent reputation for high performance, service reliability and responsive customer care.”

Stratos Vice President, Marketing & Product Management Ian Canning said, “It is gratifying to be a major part of the launch of Iridium Extreme. Over the years, we have worked very closely with Iridium to customize The Stratos Advantage for Iridium services to ensure that our customers receive the greatest possible benefit from their global service at the lowest possible cost.”

Canning concluded, “Iridium Extreme, when combined with our new StratosTrax portal, will add even more value and security for our customers working around the globe in demanding markets such as media, maritime, energy and mining. We look forward to building upon our strong record of providing fast, successful customer service for Iridium subscribers to ensure the best possible user experience.”

Stratos Channel Partners and end users can learn more about Iridium Extreme from Stratos and related products by visiting www.stratosglobal.com/iridium or by contacting their Account Manager.

About Iridium
Iridium Communications Inc. (Iridium) is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. Iridium enables connections between people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ever-expanding ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets that require truly global communications. The Company has a major development program underway for its next-generation network – Iridium NEXT. Iridium is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbols IRDM (common stock) and IRDMW ($7.00 warrants). For more information about Iridium products, services and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com.

About Stratos Dashboard for Iridium
Stratos Dashboard is the foundation of The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services utilized by tens of thousands of Stratos customers. The Stratos Advantage elevates Iridium from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These convenient applications provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. Stratos Iridium customers also have the ability to utilize AmosConnect over Iridium, a free messaging and compression tool that allows users on land or at sea to send reliable and cost-effective e-mails and e-faxes.

BGAN from Stratos Provides Communications for Balloon Expedition Over Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:20:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (November 16, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it successfully provided Inmarsat BGAN mobile satellite communications service to the Ultramagic Experience hot air balloon expedition over Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro that ended August 30th.

The Ultramagic Experience was a 14-day expedition by seven balloons across Tanzania that featured flight over Kilimanjaro. This is the first time that BGAN has been used by balloonists. With a peak of 19,327 feet (5,891 meters) Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain.

Stratos provided satellite airtime and BGAN technical support to the expedition. Other expedition partners included Ultramagic, S.A. (www.ultramagic.com), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of hot air balloons, and Stratos Channel Partner PrepaidSatphone (a trademark of Verasat Global SL; www.prepaidsatphone.com), which provided the expedition with BGAN equipment.

BGAN from Stratos provided reliable voice and data connectivity to the balloonists during the expedition, which was vital to ensure the safety of all balloonists. The BGAN connectivity also enabled fans to track the balloon’s itineraries and view spectacular images taken during flight – via the expedition’s web site www.ultramagicexperience.com.

“The expert balloonists from all over the world who participated in this event were very grateful for the support that Stratos provided, and for the reliable connectivity that was made possible by BGAN. The BGAN connectivity was especially critical for one balloon crew that was forced to land high up on Mount Kilimanjaro and was later rescued,” said Ultramagic General Manager Josep Maria Llado.

Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Stratos Vice President, Global Enterprise Sales said, “The successful deployment for this event demonstrates BGAN’s versatility and reliability, even at very high altitudes. It is gratifying to work with our partners to help ensure the safety of the balloonists and the completion of this demanding expedition.”

About BGAN from Stratos
Stratos is one of the world’s largest distributors of Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 17,000 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

Stratos Extends its Satellite Services Contract with Suncor Energy

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:17:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (November 9, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has extended its contract to provide Suncor Energy with a high-speed satellite link connecting Suncor’s Newfoundland operated offshore and shore-based facilities.

Under the terms of the five-year contract extension, Stratos is providing Suncor with a dedicated, 1MB Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC) satellite link between Suncor’s Newfoundland shore-based facilities and the Terra Nova floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility, which is located 217 miles offshore. The link utilizes Telesat’s Anik C-band satellite infrastructure. Stratos has been providing Suncor with SCPC satellite services since 2002.

In addition to the satellite link and earth-station services, Stratos’ comprehensive solution for Suncor includes 24/7 corrective and preventative maintenance services and hardware-support activities.

“As our support of the Canadian oil and gas industry expands, it is a privilege to continue providing Suncor with dependable satellite communications for its Terra Nova FPSO,” said Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Stratos Vice President, Global Enterprise Sales. “The Stratos SCPC solution provides robust communications, making the FPSO an extension of Suncor’s corporate office. We are grateful for the opportunity to help Suncor professionals benefit from fast and reliable data connectivity.”

About Stratos Services for the Global Energy Industry
For more than a decade, Stratos has been one of the largest suppliers of vital communications systems (SCPC, VSAT, MSS and microwave) to the global offshore energy industry. Stratos operates the largest and only comprehensive microwave network in the Gulf of Mexico. Stratos microwave and satellite-based networks provide offshore facilities reliable, high-speed data for file transfers, voice, video conferencing, e-mail and web access. Stratos serves the global energy industry from offices worldwide.

Stratos Announces Availability of its New StratosTrax Tracking Portal for a Wide Range of Mobile Devices

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:17:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (November 8, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the commercial availability of its new StratosTrax tracking portal. StratosTrax features fully integrated GPS and geofencing capabilities for web-based location, identification and tracking of users.

StratosTrax is ideally suited to help customers manage mobile resources anywhere in the world. It is a robust, reliable solution that enables: Vehicle and maritime fleet management; personnel security; situational awareness; and asset management.

Stratos experts will provide demonstrations of StratosTrax at the Stratos Channel Partner Conference November 8th in Barcelona.

The new StratosTrax solution is both device and medium agnostic, supporting satellite, GSM, 3G and radio devices. The new portal now supports a wide range of mobile devices, including Inmarsat Global Satellite Phone Services (GSPS), Blackberry units, Iridium Extreme and Iridium Short Burst Data units.

In the coming months, Stratos expects to announce StratosTrax support for additional devices, including iPhone, IsatData Pro, Inmarsat BGAN, Inmarsat FleetBroadband DTS and Inmarsat C services.

StratosTrax features an intuitive, user-friendly interface that integrates Google mapping views in Map, Satellite, Hybrid and Terrain options. All devices can be viewed on a single map.

The portal also features a breadcrumb function that enables users to quickly trace their trail, with tracking-update intervals programmable from 15 seconds to one week.

The cost-effective StratosTrax solution is available for as little as $20 per month, in addition to the cost of the mobile device’s data plan. The portal easily integrates with mobile devices in less than five minutes.

“Our new StratosTrax portal adds value and security for those using popular mobile devices while working around the globe in demanding markets such as military, media, maritime, energy and mining,” said Ian Canning, Stratos Vice President, Marketing & Product Management. “Because it was originally designed for military use, our customers are assured of its reliability and durability.”

More information on StratosTrax is available at www.stratosglobal.com/StratosTrax.

About The Stratos Advantage
The Stratos Advantage, featuring Stratos Dashboard, is a suite of value-added services utilized by tens of thousands of Stratos customers. The Stratos Advantage elevates Inmarsat GSPS, Iridium satellite phone services, FleetBroadband, BGAN and SwiftBroadband from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These convenient applications provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. Stratos customers also have the ability to utilize AmosConnect over Iridium and AmosConnect over Inmarsat GSPS, free messaging and compression tools that allows users on land or at sea to send reliable and cost-effective e-mails and e-faxes.

Stratos Government Services and Segovia Are Selected to Deploy COMSATCOM Infrastructure for Military Sealift Command

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:11:00 GMT

Washington, DC and Herndon, Va. November 4, 2011 – Stratos Government Services Inc. (SGSI) and Segovia, Inc., wholly owned subsidiaries of Inmarsat plc, today announced they have been awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract by the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO) for the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) Next Generation Wideband (NGW) commercial satellite communications (COMSATCOM) infrastructure and service.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

The contract, with a $315 million ceiling price, replaces the MSC’s Afloat Bandwidth Efficient Satellite Transport (BEST) COMSATCOM infrastructure. The eight-year period of performance includes a four-year base period plus four, one-year option periods. Performance will be at strategic locations worldwide.

To meet the requirements of the MSC contract, SGSI and Segovia joined forces to develop a solution that supports a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS)-based NGW system.

SGSI and Segovia services create an end-to-end IP communications pathway linking globally deployed MSC ships and assets. The pathway includes space-segment services, satellite infrastructure, shipboard terminal hardware, supporting software, and a terrestrial-backhaul infrastructure for redundant global connectivity. The SGSI/Segovia solution also includes worldwide installation and sustainment services for the MSC fleet.

“This award demonstrates the ability of SGSI and Segovia to effectively combine their considerable strengths to meet the complex communications requirements of one of the U.S. Government’s most important organizations,” said SGSI President & CEO Bob Roe. “This network will improve the capabilities of MSC to support our troops by delivering supplies and conducting specialized missions across the world’s oceans.”

Segovia President & CEO Michael Wheeler added, “By leveraging the capabilities of both SGSI and Segovia, this solution ensures MSC will utilize the most advanced maritime-communications technology, supported by a global network of experts to manage deployment and provide ongoing support.”

About Segovia
Segovia, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc, is a recognized leader in providing secure, global communication solutions to the public and private sectors. For nearly a decade, the Company’s existing global network infrastructure and innovative business approach – backed by the industry’s most skilled and experienced workforce – have yielded smarter solutions, delivered with greater speed, reliability and customer focus. A trusted partner of the defense, homeland security and emergency first-response communities, Segovia quickly deploys end-to-end, mission-critical communications to support strategic and tactical initiatives worldwide. Segovia is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with network assets and operations around the globe. To learn more, visit www.segoviaip.com or call 866.SEGOVIA.

About Stratos Government Services Inc.
SGSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc. Founded in 2006 and based in Washington, DC, SGSI is dedicated to serving U.S. Dept. of Defense customers as well as federal and state government agencies. SGSI is a single-source integrator of multiple commercial satellite technologies. On a global basis, SGSI provides airtime, hardware, installation, network engineering and management, customer support and value-added services. For more information, please visit www.stratosgsi.com.

Sandigan Selects Stratos for Fleetwide Deployment of FleetBroadband

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:19:00 GMT

--Sandigan reports improved applications performance and crew productivity--

Bethesda, Maryland (November 3, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by Sandigan Ship Services, Inc. to deploy the Inmarsat FleetBroadband satellite communications service on Sandigan’s fleet of commercial vessels.

Based in The Philippines, Sandigan manages a global fleet that includes bulk carriers and car carriers. FleetBroadband from Stratos already has been successfully deployed on 12 Sandigan vessels. Deployment on the remainder of the fleet is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The Sandigan contract is the latest example of Stratos’ successful deployment of FleetBroadband on a wide range of vessel types across all major geographic regions. Stratos has activated more than 9,000 FleetBroadband terminals worldwide.

By ensuring reliable broadband connectivity at sea, FleetBroadband from Stratos is helping Sandigan achieve optimal vessel performance, improved business operations and increased crew productivity. For Sandigan, Stratos fully integrated FleetBroadband with its sophisticated AmosConnect application, to improve management of all interoffice communications.

Sandigan also improves crew welfare by deploying Stratos’ AmosConnect Crew CommCenter. The solution enables personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via calling, private email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates. The solution’s high functionality helps retain qualified seafarers. The application features an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember.

The integrated communications solution that Stratos is deploying for Sandigan includes an Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro satellite phone on each vessel, for backup voice communications. An IsatPhone Pro is installed at Sandigan’s headquarters office as well. Sandigan also is deploying Stratos’ GSM Oceanwide solution, which enables crewmembers to use their personal GSM phones to communicate with family and friends by voice and SMS.

This deployment for Sandigan includes the full range of The Stratos Advantage value-added services for which Stratos has become well known. Those services – which are helping Sandigan attain the highest possible FleetBroadband performance, security and cost control – include the online Stratos Dashboard, which provides Sandigan with cost and traffic control, online invoicing, firewall management and many other benefits.

“FleetBroadband from Stratos is meeting our high expectations by enabling us to achieve faster data transmission and better voice quality than the systems we previously used – at a lower cost,” said Sandigan President, Capt. Tomoyoshi Yanagita. “The service has increased the performance of many of the IP-based applications on which we depend. This has enabled us to improve business management.”

Capt. Yanagita added, “Stratos provided a comprehensive approach to this deployment. Their Singapore support team analyzed our data traffic and provided a range of options. They patiently helped us reduce communications costs and improve the performance of critical applications such as BASSnet, our planned maintenance software.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “This FleetBroadband solution is carefully designed to help Sandigan meet its objective of deploying the latest integrated management systems to achieve the highest levels of customer service. We look forward to helping Sandigan use our expanding range of new applications to maintain high operating efficiency and a competitive advantage.”

For Sandigan, this FleetBroadband system provides an optimal data connection for numerous other onboard applications, including planned maintenance systems, purchase systems and remote management – which allows Sandigan headquarters personnel to manage the ship’s computers without visiting the vessel.

With FleetBroadband from Stratos, Sandigan now has the capability to achieve high-performance, direct remote access to the ship’s computer terminals, the FleetBroadband terminal and the onboard firewall via popular remote-support applications. In the future, Sandigan has the option to use FleetBroadband from Stratos for engine-performance analysis and emissions monitoring, to help reduce fuel costs and comply with emissions regulations.

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
Stratos has activated more than 9,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kbps. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort, maritime VSAT services and Inmarsat XpressLink – which combines FleetBroadband with VSAT to provide a highly flexible migration path toward Inmarsat’s Global Xpress services.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About Sandigan Ship Services, Inc.
Founded in 2002, Sandigan has become one of Asia’s leading ship-management companies. Its services include technical management, crew management, training, insurance, reporting, new building supervision, pre-purchase inspections and condition surveys. For more information, please visit www.sandiganship.com.

U.S. Coast Guard Selects Stratos Government Services to Deploy Ku-Band Communications Network

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:18:00 GMT

Washington, DC, October 27, 2011 – Stratos Government Services Inc. (SGSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc, today announced it was awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on June 17, 2011 to provide USCG Large Cutter Connectivity. SGSI will provide the USCG with Ku-band satellite airtime, installation support, teleport equipment and service, Network Operations Center support and training.

Under the contract, SGSI will buildout a Ku-band network to support USCG High-Endurance Cutters and Medium-Endurance Cutters. The broadband service will enable the cutters to interconnect with the USCG data network to exchange operational ship traffic, including SIPRNET and NIPRNET data.

Ku band as a primary communications path is a critical component of the USCG’s efforts to upgrade technology onboard its ships, as it migrates from Inmarsat B lease services to an IP-based communications architecture. The upgrade, along with FleetBroadband, which is currently being provided by SGSI, is designed to increase the vessels’ communications throughput capabilities to operate globally in all weather conditions.

“This contract award represents a critical component of USCG’s technology upgrade and transition to an IP-based architecture,” said SGSI President & CEO Bob Roe. “We consider it an honor and a privilege to have been entrusted with this responsibility, and we are grateful for the opportunity to expand our relationship with USCG.”

About Stratos Government Services Inc.
SGSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc. Founded in 2006 and based in Washington, DC, SGSI is dedicated to serving U.S. Dept. of Defense customers as well as federal and state government agencies. SGSI is a single-source integrator of multiple commercial satellite technologies. On a global basis, SGSI provides airtime, hardware, installation, network engineering and management, customer support and value-added services. For more information, please visit www.stratosgsi.com.

Stratos Introduces StratosMAX II Nomadic, a New Broadband Service for the Energy Community in the Gulf of Mexico

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:16:00 GMT

--New service offers voice and high-speed data in Vessel and Transportable versions--

Bethesda, Maryland (October 20, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today introduced StratosMAX II Nomadic, a new version of its popular StratosMAX II broadband service offered via the Stratos microwave network for the offshore energy community in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region.

Since its introduction last year, the WiMAX-based StratosMAX II service has been adopted by several energy companies in the GoM, as it increases the performance of corporate networks offshore. The fixed-site service provides reliable voice communications, broadband (burstable up to 10Mbps) Internet connectivity, Stratos HotSpot WiFi service and a wide range of mobile applications to oil rigs, platforms and offshore vessels. It is available from more than 50 base stations providing coverage of offshore production sites across the GoM. The StratosMAX II advantages of higher speeds and ultra-low latencies over a robust network enable users to achieve maximum functionality at prices comparable to traditional VSAT service.

The new StratosMAX II Nomadic service enables companies to expand their corporate networks to their mobile operations throughout the GoM. For the first time, these mobile sites now can benefit from higher speeds and ultra-low latencies.

The new service is available in two versions. The StratosMAX II Nomadic Vessel version can be permanently mounted on mobile oil rigs or lift boats that move from location to location. The Vessel version also is ideal for workboats operated by companies serving the oil and gas community.

The StratosMAX II Nomadic Transportable version is fully contained in a carrying case and is well suited for companies that temporarily operate on different sites. Each version provides broadband (burstable up to 1Mbps) Internet connectivity and multiple voice lines.

The Stratos microwave backbone network carries StratosMAX II traffic to shore. With its redundant beach crossings, survivable ring architecture and on-land fiber optic distribution, the offshore microwave network provides very high reliability in the harsh GoM environment. Stratos uses the industry’s most sophisticated management systems to monitor its microwave network 24x7. Stratos also is upgrading backbone radios to high capacity Ethernet and implementing Multiprotocol Layered Service (MPLS) in its core microwave network.

“Energy producers on the move are demanding levels of broadband performance and reliability similar to what is available to fixed sites. Our new StratosMAX II Nomadic service provides a wider range of broadband options for the GoM energy community,” said Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Stratos Vice President, Global Enterprise Sales. “With this new service, these companies now have ultimate flexibility to expand their networks – and to reap all the benefits of high-speed Internet connectivity, WiFi service, corporate video conferencing, telemedicine and other bandwidth-intensive applications.”

Schalkwijk concluded, “StratosMAX II Nomadic is the latest example of our commitment to provide the GoM energy community with the most comprehensive range of solutions that maximize business productivity and crew welfare.”

About StratosMAX II
StratosMAX II provides broadband connectivity to oil rigs, platforms and offshore vessels in the GoM. It connects fixed and nomadic customers back to shore utilizing Stratos’ industry-leading digital microwave network with diverse shore crossings and onshore Stratos interconnection facilities. The IP-based StratosMAX II service offers high-bandwidth, low-latency features and is competitively priced against VSAT and legacy radio technologies. The low-latency features enable superior service quality and customer experience for lag-sensitive applications such as corporate VPN access, voice and video communications.

StratosMAX II is based on WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) standards. WiMAX technology is provisioned by Stratos over licensed spectrum across the GoM. Those seeking more information on StratosMAX II can contact their Stratos account representative, call 1-800-375-1562 or visit www.stratosglobal.com/StratosMAX.

About Stratos Services for the Global Energy Industry
Stratos employs more than 200 professionals in the GoM region and for more than a decade has been one of the largest suppliers of vital communications systems (VSAT, MSS and microwave) to the global offshore energy industry. Stratos operates the largest and only comprehensive microwave network in the GoM. Stratos microwave and VSAT networks provide reliable, high-speed communications for data, voice, video conferencing, email, fax and web access – all of which combine to make the network an extension of the corporate office. Stratos serves the global energy industry from offices worldwide.

Stratos recently completed a multi-million-dollar investment to upgrade and expand the functionality and resilience of its microwave network. Examples include installation of Ethernet radios, replacement of onshore radio hops with fiber optics, and continued transition to an IP-based network to provide high-bandwidth, cost-effective services such StratosMAX II.

Stratos Opens Global Installation & Service Centers in Four Major Maritime Regions

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:08:00 GMT

--New Centers provide complete managed-communications services worldwide--

Bethesda, Maryland (October 3, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has expanded its maritime service-delivery capabilities by opening Global Installation & Service Centers (GIS Centers) in four major maritime regions.

The Stratos GIS Centers in Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore and Lafayette, Louisiana provide complete managed-communications services for ship owners and ship-management companies worldwide.

The GIS Centers are staffed with fully trained Stratos Field Engineers who can draw upon a network of certified Stratos Installation Partners to provide installation, onboard maintenance and ongoing support for the Stratos portfolio of satellite-based communications products. The portfolio includes Inmarsat’s XpressLink, FleetBroadband and GSM Oceanwide services, as well as VSAT services and the AmosConnect family of communications applications.

“We always have taken great pride in providing our maritime customers with the industry’s highest levels of service deployment and ongoing support,” said Ronald Spithout, Stratos Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Service. “With the new Stratos GIS Centers, we are expanding our ability to provide truly managed services to the maritime community around the globe.”

Spithout concluded, “Customers have been relying on us for many years to provide their satellite communications services. They now can count on a more global approach for installations, maintenance and support for our evolving maritime broadband portfolio. By relying on expertise from a single provider, shipping and ship-management companies can achieve maximum benefit from their communications investment.”

Paramount Service for Every Global Region

The new Stratos GIS Center in Lafayette, Louisiana serves the port of Houston and the Americas. The Center in Rotterdam serves all major ports in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The Centers in Hong Kong and Singapore serve all major ports in Asia. Stratos Field Engineers also are stationed and ready to quickly manage deployments in: St. John’s, Newfoundland; Aberdeen, Scotland; and all major ports in those regions.

In addition to Stratos Field Engineers, Global Installation & Service will be provided through the global network of certified, third-party Stratos Installation Partners whose work is regularly reviewed by Stratos to ensure conformity with Stratos Service Level Agreements and industry leading service standards. From the GIS Centers, Stratos manages the deployments of Stratos Installation Partners in all major harbors in their respective regions.

All project management will continue to be implemented by Stratos Customer Managers. Longer-term installations across larger fleets will be fully coordinated around the world to meet customer requirements and vessel port schedules.

Stratos Boasts Premier Maritime Broadband Portfolio

Stratos’ newly expanded maritime broadband portfolio meets the increasing bandwidth demands of its customers. The portfolio includes Inmarsat XpressLink, FleetBroadband, FBB Flat Fee and FBBPlus service plans. XpressLink offers shipping companies a highly flexible migration path toward Inmarsat’s Global Xpress services, which are expected to be commercially available in 2013. Other services include Iridium OpenPort and maritime VSAT services.

Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services, known as The Stratos Advantage, to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency.

With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, Stratos maritime broadband services are elevated far above baseline offerings. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction.

Maritime customers can secure more information by contacting their Stratos account manager or via info@stratosglobal.com.

BGAN from Stratos Enables French Radio Station to Stream Live Mobile Show from Paris Techno Parade

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:45:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (September 29, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it provided the Inmarsat BGAN broadband satellite service that enabled Hotmix Radio to stream its live, mobile show from the Paris Techno Parade on Sept. 17th.

This year’s 13th annual Paris Techno Parade featured 150 musicians on 15 floats equipped with loudspeakers playing techno music. More than 100,000 participants lined the three-mile parade route to dance to the music and view the floats.

Hotmix Radio is a Paris-based Internet radio portal that offers members a wide range of music and video content, artist biographies, nightclub information and chat rooms.

Stratos teamed with its Paris-based Channel Partner Geolink Satellite Services to provide Hotmix Radio with the BGAN-based radio solution that included Geolink’s new ClipWay Radio encoding/compression application. ClipWay Radio combines essential functions and services, including live broadcasting and audio-files transmission, in a single software solution.

“BGAN from Stratos enabled us to reliably broadcast more than two hours of live Techno Parade coverage from our vehicle float in the parade,” said Hotmix Radio General Manager Olivier Riou. “The service proved invaluable in this type of environment, where terrestrial and cellular communications were not feasible.”

Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Stratos Vice President, Global Enterprise Sales said, “BGAN has already proven to be a highly effective broadcasting tool for major media organizations reporting from disasters and special events in the world’s most remote locations. The mobile BGAN service now is recognized as a dependable, cost-effective platform to enable radio stations to bring the live energy of important music festivals to their listeners.”

Geolink Managing Director Christophe Pacilly said, “Anticipating the phase-out of ISDN, we used the valuable input of major French radio stations to develop ClipWay Radio, which transmits over IP. Our goal with ClipWay Radio is to guarantee the quality and clarity of the broadcast sessions. With this year’s Techno Parade, our challenge was to provide the same guaranteed broadcast quality as ISDN – in a moving studio. We are happy to report that the ClipWay Radio/BGAN solution successfully met that challenge.”

For more than five years, BGAN from Stratos has enabled many of the world’s largest media organizations to transmit audio and video content from any remote location. Broadcasters such as the BBC effectively use BGAN services with minimal training. The premium BGAN X-Stream service allows a guaranteed minimum symmetrical video streaming rate of 384 kbps, with up to 450 kbps expected under optimal conditions.

For any news or entertainment event, broadcasters can make full use of Stratos’ value-added services known as The Stratos Advantage, which enable customers to monitor airtime, restrict unauthorized usage and manage costs. Broadcasters also achieve guaranteed, end-to-end bandwidth for their time-critical data with a Stratos GuaranteedAccess solution custom designed by Stratos engineers.

Stratos GuaranteedAccess extends guaranteed bandwidth from the BGAN terminal through to the terrestrial infrastructure to broadcast centers. Stratos GuaranteedAccess is enabled by StratosNexus, a Stratos-managed Global Core network for traditional and IP-based services. StratosNexus is a redundant and highly resilient network, designed and optimized to carry time-sensitive satellite traffic.

About BGAN from Stratos
Stratos is one of the world’s largest distributors of Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 17,000 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About Geolink Satellite Services
Geolink Satellite Services, a CETel group company, is a leading global satellite service provider based in Paris. The Company provides a broad range of services, including Geolink Access, iDirect, VSAT solutions, teleport services, Iridium, Inmarsat technologies and the ClipWay media solutions. Geolink serves a broad range of customers, including NGOs, governmental institutions, oil & gas, mining, media and shipping companies. The Geolink network extends to nearly 3,500 remote sites in more than 50 countries across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.geolink.com .

Stratos Introduces New FleetBroadband Flat Fee Plans

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:05:00 GMT

--New plans offer reliable, global broadband connectivity for a predictable monthly fee--

Bethesda, Maryland (September 28, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the commercial availability of its Inmarsat FleetBroadband Flat Fee service plans, known as FBB Flat Fee.

Stratos’ new FBB Flat Fee plans offer the high performance (up to 432kbps), global coverage, simplicity and reliability of Inmarsat FleetBroadband – in addition to The Stratos Advantage value-added services – all at an affordable, flat monthly price.

The FBB Flat Fee plans include 10GB and 15GB per-vessel data connectivity options. The plans also include highly competitive rates for voice calls.

Shipping companies now can choose from contract periods of two to four years. The four-year contract period represents the most competitive FleetBroadband commercial offering on the market today.

These plans utilize a standard FleetBroadband 500 terminal, simplifying installation and support. FleetBroadband has become the standard in global maritime communications. Many newly built vessels, or ships that have already upgraded to FleetBroadband, are already fully equipped to utilize the service today – thereby making additional capital costs unnecessary.

Stratos also offers customers the option of a three-month, paid trial period. During the trial period, customers can upgrade or downgrade their FBB Flat Fee data allocation or contract duration. The trial period allows time for Stratos and the customer to work together, to select the plan that meets the requirements of each vessel.

Stratos today is the market leader in the number of FBB Flat Fee plans deployed. The plans have been deployed by Stratos for a number of its existing customers, as well as by Stratos Channel Partner Navarino Telecom for ship-management companies Grieg Shipping Group, OSM Ship Management and Ugland Marine Services, among others.

FBB Flat Fee is one of several innovative Stratos broadband programs that provide shipping companies with a flexible pathway to Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band service. Global Xpress, which is expected to be commercially available in 2013, will deliver speeds of up to 50Mbps. Customers contracting for FBB Flat Fee plans from Stratos can upgrade to Global Xpress without penalty.

“Many of the world’s leading shipping companies are demanding higher volumes of data – with the dependability of L-band satellite communications – to support critical applications. They also want to choose from a range of price plans that meet their specific requirements,” said Joe Apa, Stratos Vice President, Global Maritime. “We are meeting those demands with simple, affordable plans such as FBB Flat Fee, in addition to our managed global broadband service XpressLink.”

Apa concluded, “Our wide range of broadband solutions proves that we are ideally suited to help expand our customers’ communications capabilities as we prepare for the availability Inmarsat’s Global Xpress services.”

FleetBroadband from Stratos provides ships with global broadband connectivity while at sea – for email, Internet access and voice communications – ensuring optimal vessel performance, business operations and crew productivity.

Since its introduction in 2007, Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband has been deployed on more than 21,600 vessels. Stratos’ more than 9,000 FleetBroadband activations encompass all major geographic regions and vessel types, from customers including Wallem Shipmanagement, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Varun Shipping Co., MISC Berhad, Albacora Group, MPC Steamship and the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Stratos deployments of FleetBroadband for many of the world’s largest shipping companies include the full range of The Stratos Advantage value-added services for which Stratos has become well known. Those services ensure that customers attain the highest possible FleetBroadband performance, security and cost control. They include:

--The online Stratos Dashboard, for cost and traffic control, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

--AmosConnect, Stratos’ sophisticated communications application, to manage all interoffice communications.

--Stratos’ new AmosConnect Crew CommCenter that enables seafarers to stay in contact with home via calling, private email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates – while enjoying true onboard Internet café features, such as prepaid chatting, prepaid web browsing and access to global and local news services.

--Stratos ChatCards for crew calling, which contribute to crew satisfaction by providing easy billing and ordering.

FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides an optimal data connection for many other onboard applications, including planned maintenance systems, purchase systems and remote management – which allows headquarters personnel to manage the ship’s computers without visiting the vessel.

Stratos customers also use FleetBroadband for engine-performance analysis and emissions monitoring, to help reduce fuel costs and comply with emissions regulations.

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kbps. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort, maritime VSAT services and Inmarsat XpressLink – which combines FleetBroadband with VSAT to provide a highly flexible migration path toward Inmarsat’s Global Xpress services.

Stratos also works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager, sending e-mail to info@stratosglobal.com, or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

Reederei Claus-Peter Offen Selects FleetBroadband from Stratos for Entire Fleet of 122 Commercial Vessels

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:23:00 GMT

--Broadband service prepares vessels to meet growing data requirements--

Bethesda, Maryland (September 27, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by Reederei Claus-Peter Offen (CP Offen) to provide Inmarsat FleetBroadband airtime services for its entire fleet of 122 commercial vessels.

CP Offen, based in Hamburg, is one of the world’s largest suppliers of modern commercial ships, including 122 container vessels, tankers and bulkers. CP Offen vessels are chartered by all of the world’s largest operators.

By ensuring reliable broadband connectivity at sea, FleetBroadband from Stratos will help CP Offen vessels achieve optimal performance, improved business operations and increased crew productivity.

On the CP Offen fleet, Stratos is fully integrating FleetBroadband with AmosConnect – its sophisticated maritime communications application – to improve management of all interoffice communications. The integrated Stratos offering also improves crew welfare by deploying AmosConnect with Stratos ChatCards. The crew-communications solution enables personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via calling and private email at affordable, flat global rates. The solution’s high functionality helps retain qualified seafarers by providing an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember.

“Moving to FleetBroadband from Stratos ensures our vessels can benefit from the most advanced business and crew applications, while meeting the growing demand for bandwidth, in a highly cost-effective manner,” said Ascan Roosen, Head of CP Offen’s IT Department. “Stratos is providing excellent service and is acting as a true partner in this important technology conversion.”

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to provide CP Offen with our reliable FleetBroadband airtime services and maritime applications expertise. Our proven solutions will help these vessels meet all of the communications requirements of today’s most demanding shipmanagers.”

Stratos’ more than 9,000 FleetBroadband activations encompasses all geographic regions and vessel types, from customers including Wallem Shipmanagement, Albacora Group, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Varun Shipping Co., MISC Berhad, MPC Steamship and the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Stratos deployments of FleetBroadband for many of the world’s largest shipping companies include The Stratos Advantage services to ensure the highest FleetBroadband performance, security and cost control. They are comprised of:

--The online Stratos Dashboard, for cost and traffic control, firewall management and many other benefits.

--AmosConnect, Stratos’ sophisticated communications application, to manage all interoffice communications.

--Stratos’ new AmosConnect Crew CommCenter that enables seafarers to stay in contact with home via calling, private email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates – while enjoying true onboard Internet café features, such as prepaid chatting, prepaid web browsing and access to global and local news services.

--Stratos ChatCards for crew calling, which contribute to crew satisfaction by providing easy billing and ordering.

FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides an optimal data connection for many other onboard applications, including planned maintenance systems, purchase systems and remote management – which allows headquarters personnel to manage the ship’s computers without visiting the vessel.

Stratos customers also use FleetBroadband for engine-performance analysis and emissions monitoring, to help reduce fuel costs and comply with emissions regulations.

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kbps. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort, maritime VSAT services and Inmarsat XpressLink – which combines FleetBroadband with VSAT to provide a highly flexible migration path toward Inmarsat’s Global Xpress services.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage services, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Those seeking more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos can contact their Stratos account manager or visit www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About Reederei Claus-Peter Offen
Reederei Claus-Peter Offen, founded in 1971, is based in Hamburg and is one of the world’s largest suppliers of modern container ship tonnage. The Company has 122 container vessels, tankers and bulkers in service or currently under construction – most of which are chartered under long-term contract to leading shipping lines. The vessels are employed in worldwide service. The Company employs approximately 4,000 persons. For more information, please visit www.offenship.de.

Stratos is First to Activate New FleetBroadband Pricing Plan for Single-Vessel Operators and Small Fleets

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:21:00 GMT

--New plans meet high data-usage requirements of yachts and other vessels--

Bethesda, Maryland (September 15, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is the first Inmarsat Distribution Partner to activate Inmarsat’s new FleetBroadband Large Money Bundle for single-vessel operators and fleets with fewer than 10 vessels.

The new Large Money Bundles offer the high performance (up to 432kbps), global coverage, simplicity and reliability of Inmarsat FleetBroadband – in addition to The Stratos Advantage value-added services – all at an affordable, fixed monthly rate. The packages include monthly data-connectivity plans as large as 5GB, in addition to highly competitive rates for voice calls.

The new plans meet the increasing data requirements of yachts and other vessels. The plans provide a high level of monthly bandwidth for email, web browsing, social networking, GSM and other popular applications. With these plans, FleetBroadband is available on terminals as small as 25cm.

The first FleetBroadband Large Money Bundle was activated by Stratos Channel Partner e3 Systems (e3) for one of the largest private sailing yachts built by Royal Huisman in Holland.

“These new plans are generating a high level of interest among the yachting community,” said e3 Managing Director Roger Horner. “They offer predictable costs, regional and global coverage, flexible usage and payment programs, as well as the added value of The Stratos Advantage services.”

Horner added, “We activated the plan onboard the yacht within days of its launch. The yacht’s captain now is examining Stratos Dashboard online monitoring tools and Stratos Trench firewall to ensure the highest possible broadband performance, security and cost control. These plans are a perfect solution for sailing yachts, yachts with itineraries outside traditional VSAT footprints and yachts with space and weight restrictions on which it is difficult to install a 1m VSAT antenna.”

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “With its depth of experience and creative approach to electronics integration, e3 is well positioned to bring the benefits of these new FleetBroadband Money Bundles to demanding vessel owners in many key geographic regions. We look forward to working with e3 and our hundreds of other capable Channel Partners to help vessel owners adopt the wide range of flexible pricing programs for which Inmarsat has become well known.”

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kbps. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller and less expensive than VSAT solutions.

Stratos’ more than 9,000 FleetBroadband activations encompasses all major geographic regions and vessel types, from customers including Wallem Shipmanagement, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Varun Shipping Co., MISC Berhad, Albacora Group, MPC Steamship and the Royal Netherlands Navy.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort, maritime VSAT services and Inmarsat XpressLink – which combines FleetBroadband with VSAT to provide a highly flexible migration path toward Inmarsat’s Global Xpress services.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About e3 Systems
e3 Systems provides high-quality electronics design, refit, repair and support services for luxury yachts, ships and homes. The Company also specializes in communications integration. With a fully trained team of experts in every aspect of electronics, from manufacturing to government standards, e3 Systems constantly strives to maintain its position at the cutting edge of all new industry developments in electronics – for even the most advanced vessels. e3 Systems is based in Spain and has offices worldwide. For more information, please visit www.e3s.com.

Stratos is the First Inmarsat Distribution Partner for IsatData Pro, SkyWave’s New Global Satellite Data Service

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:33:00 GMT

--New service uses Inmarsat satellites to provide remote management and communication with mobile and fixed assets for M2M market--

Bethesda, Maryland (August 11, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has entered into an agreement with SkyWave Mobile Communications to serve as the first Inmarsat Distribution Partner for IsatData Pro products and service. SkyWave and Inmarsat jointly announced the global availability of IsatData Pro on August 4, 2011.

IsatData Pro utilizes the global Inmarsat satellite constellation to provide remote management and communication with mobile and fixed assets worldwide. It delivers up to 37 times the data capability of competing services. Near real-time messages of up to 10,000 bytes to the device, and up to 6,400 bytes from the device, meet the increasing demand for higher data speeds in machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions.

The new IsatData Pro service supports a wide range of security and location-based services in the fast-growing M2M market. These include: tracking and in-cab messaging for commercial transportation and government fleets; transmitting telemetry information from oil & gas distribution equipment; and remote management and control of fixed assets.

Stratos will market IsatData Pro to users in the government and land-transportation markets, and as a Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) solution to oil & gas and utilities sectors. For the oil & gas and utilities sectors, Stratos will integrate IsatData Pro with StratosiWare, an IP-based fully managed end-to-end SCADA solution. At any desired polling interval, the scalable StratosiWare service automatically interrogates SCADA field devices and transmits data via satellite, radio or microwave across the global StratosNexus telecommunications infrastructure to Stratos Data Centers worldwide.

“IsatData Pro is a global service that offers greater packet data capability, scalability and reliability than competing M2M communications solutions, at compelling economics,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “The ability to send and receive more data from remote assets will provide customers with better visibility of business operations, thus enabling them to manage risks more effectively.”

SkyWave CEO and Managing Director Pui-Ling Stanley Chan said, “With its strong reputation for value-added services and global customer support, Stratos is ideally suited to bring the advantages of IsatData Pro to our most critical target markets. We look forward to working closely with Stratos experts to meet the individual needs of customers.”

About IsatData Pro from Stratos
IsatData Pro from Stratos is ideal for time-critical applications. The very low latency of messages transmitted means asset owners and managers can exchange information in near real-time. For example, this is an advantage for sending information to drivers operating in high-risk areas, or for receiving error logs from remote equipment or sensors in an emergency. The IsatData Pro hardware portfolio manufactured by SkyWave includes rugged, environmentally sealed terminals, ready for immediate use on mobile and fixed assets.

An IsatData Pro-based SCADA network will serve as the perfect complement to the StratosiWare SCADA solution. The IsatData Pro service serves as a robust end-to-end network service to StratosiWare, ensuring seamless connectivity in case of extreme weather. More than 8,000 Stratos SCADA terminals have been deployed for a wide range of markets across the United States. More information on IsatData Pro from Stratos is available at www.stratosglobal.com/isatdatapro.

About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc (LSE: ISAT) is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. The Company’s services are delivered through a global network of more than 400 distribution partners and service providers operating in 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com.

About SkyWave Mobile Communications
SkyWave Mobile Communications is a global provider of satellite communication equipment and airtime services for M2M applications. Using the global Inmarsat satellite constellation, SkyWave’s products provide dependable communication, tracking, monitoring and remote management of fixed and mobile assets. Over the past 14 years, SkyWave has designed, manufactured and shipped more than 400,000 satellite terminals to customers in the transportation, maritime, oil and gas, heavy equipment, utilities and government sectors. IsatData Pro is an Inmarsat trademark used under license by SkyWave Mobile Communications. For more information, please visit www.skywave.com.

BGAN from Stratos Provides Mountain Connectivity for Fourth Stage of Ray Zahabs World Expedition

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:08:00 GMT

--Adventurers and Youth Ambassadors ran marathons in Bolivia’s Andes mountains to promote the United Nations’ International Year of Chemistry--

Bethesda, Maryland (July 19, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it provided world-renowned adventurer Ray Zahab’s “Expedition Bolivia” with Inmarsat BGAN mobile broadband satellite service.

Expedition Bolivia, which was held May 12-24, was the fourth stage of Zahab’s impossible2Possible (i2P) World Expedition Series. This stage took place in the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat high in the Bolivian Andes. In this expedition, Zahab, four Youth Ambassadors and other adventurers took the i2P Experiential Learning Program to the Salar to illustrate the role that chemistry plays in the region, in honor of the United Nations’ International Year of Chemistry (www.chemistry2011.org).

Youth Ambassadors ran an average of a marathon per day for up to one week, a total of more than 200 miles, in a quest to experience Bolivia as few have ever done before. The expedition featured daily experiments that employed the natural elements of the Salar to illustrate the basic principles of chemistry.

The expedition leaders successfully used BGAN from Stratos to broadcast content to their web site http://impossible2possible.com/bolivia/home. They also used the system to maintain contact with their project team, post photos and blog entries, upload videos, and stream live video conferencing into classrooms across North America. The video conferences provided a compelling learning experience to thousands of students. During the expedition, students were able to see and speak with the expedition participants in real time – while learning about the principles of chemistry.

Stratos provided BGAN service to other stages of the World Expedition Series, including Running Tunisia and Siberian Express for Water. Stratos Dashboard, the foundation of The Stratos Advantage value-added services, was used to monitor and control BGAN airtime usage.

“Over the years, BGAN from Stratos has provided us with exceptional broadband connectivity in the harsh Siberian wilderness, the Tunisian desert and now the remote Andes mountains,” Zahab said. “I am continually impressed by the system’s durability and reliability, which has helped bring our message of education, inspiration and empowerment to millions worldwide.”

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “It is gratifying to provide the critical communications service that helped ensure the safety of the young people and organizers participating in this latest i2P expedition. The ability to stream live video from Bolivia into classrooms thousands of miles away helped bring the principles of chemistry to life for a new generation of students.”

Coverage of Expedition Bolivia was featured on CNN, Outside.com and numerous other media outlets.

About BGAN from Stratos
Stratos is one of the world’s largest distributors of Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 15,000 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

Stratos Acquires Assets of Blue Ocean Wireless

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:04:00 GMT

--Stratos continues selling BOW shipboard GSM services under new brand GSM Oceanwide--

Bethesda, Maryland (July 21, 2011) – Stratos BV, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has purchased most of the operational assets of Blue Ocean Wireless Ltd. (BOW). BOW was a provider of shipboard GSM services that enabled crewmembers to use their personal GSM phones to communicate with family and friends by voice and SMS.

As part of the acquisition, Stratos assumes responsibility for providing services to most of BOW’s customers, including many large commercial shipping companies worldwide. Since July 1, BOW customers have been receiving invoices directly from Stratos. Stratos will continue to market and sell BOW’s services to existing and new customers, under the new brand GSM Oceanwide.

Stratos has a strong reputation for providing ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. Increasingly, crew members are demanding the communications capabilities they have onshore, including the use of their own mobile devices for SMS and voice calling.

Stratos offers a variety of crew-welfare services to meet these needs, including GSM Oceanwide, prepaid Stratos ChatCards and AmosConnect Crew. Stratos also offers a wide range of value-added services to help ensure that shipmanagers achieve optimal performance, management control and cost efficiency of their crew-communications solutions.

“Today, more than ever, savvy shipmanagers understand that offering a wide range of communications options is critical to attracting and retaining qualified crewmembers,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “Each day we work with these shipmanagers to ensure they can offer advanced voice, private email, and SMS services that are powerful, easy to use and available away from the bridge.”

Parm concluded, “Our acquisition of the BOW assets improves our ability to offer affordable GSM services to our global customer base.”

Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes FleetBroadband, FleetBroadband Flat Fee, FBBPlus, Iridium OpenPort and the new VSAT solution Inmarsat XpressLink.

Stratos Maritime-Communications Solutions Feature The Stratos Advantage™
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, Stratos maritime-communications solutions are elevated far above baseline services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

Stratos Completes New Deployment of its StratosMAX II Broadband Service in the Gulf of Mexico

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:54:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (July 25, 2011) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has completed deployment of its new StratosMAX II broadband service for W&T Offshore, Inc (NYSE: WTI) at 29 sites in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). W&T is an independent oil and gas company based in Houston.

The WiMAX-based StratosMAX II provides reliable voice communications, high-speed (up to 10Mbps) Internet connectivity, Stratos HotSpot WiFi service and a wide range of mobile applications. For W&T, StratosMAX II is powering numerous applications, including procurement, recording production and preventative maintenance.

Stratos also is providing W&T with an auto-failover VSAT service to ensure 100 percent service continuity to those StratosMAX II sites. The failover service protects against momentary outages on last-mile connections.

The Stratos microwave backbone network carries StratosMAX II traffic to shore. With its redundant beach crossings, survivable ring architecture and on-land fiber optic distribution, the offshore microwave network provides very high reliability in the harsh GoM environment. Stratos uses the industry’s most sophisticated management systems to monitor its microwave network 24x7.

“The StratosMAX II advantages of higher speeds and ultra-low latencies over a robust network enable our customers to achieve maximum functionality at the same price they were paying for traditional VSAT service,” said Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Stratos Vice President, Global Enterprise Sales. “This economic flexibility will enable customers to expand their networks to include corporate video conferencing, telemedicine and other bandwidth-intensive applications.”

Schalkwijk added, “This deployment for W&T demonstrates our dedication to providing energy companies with customized solutions that maximize flexibility, scalability and crew welfare in the most rugged environments.”

About StratosMAX II
StratosMAX II provides WiMAX coverage and connectivity to oil rigs, platforms and offshore vessels in the GoM. It connects fixed and nomadic customers back to shore utilizing Stratos’ industry-leading digital microwave network with diverse shore crossings and onshore Stratos interconnection facilities. The IP-based StratosMAX II service offers high-bandwidth, low-latency features and is competitively priced against VSAT and legacy radio technologies. The low-latency features enable superior service quality and customer experience for lag-sensitive applications such as corporate VPN access, voice and video communications.

In addition to the high-quality connectivity back to the Internet, voice services, and corporate networks, StratosMAX II provides a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)-based, service-continuity feature to ensure that mission-critical communications are not impacted by short-duration service interruptions in the GoM. This feature provides customers with a level of performance and reliability that is unparalleled in the GoM.

StratosMAX II is based on WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) standards. WiMAX technology is provisioned by Stratos over licensed spectrum across the GoM. Those seeking more information on StratosMAX II can contact their Stratos account representative, call 1-800-375-1562 or visit www.stratosglobal.com/StratosMAX.

About Stratos Services for the Global Energy Industry
Stratos employs more than 200 professionals in the GoM region and for more than a decade has been one of the largest suppliers of vital communications systems (VSAT, MSS and microwave) to the global offshore energy industry. Stratos operates the largest and only comprehensive microwave network in the GoM. Stratos microwave and VSAT networks provide offshore facilities reliable, high-speed data for file transfers, voice, video conferencing, email, fax and web access – all of which combine to make the network an extension of the corporate office. Stratos serves the global energy industry from offices worldwide.

Stratos recently completed a multi-million-dollar investment to upgrade and expand the functionality and resilience of its microwave network. Examples include installation of Ethernet radios, replacement of onshore radio hops with fiber optics, and continued transition to an IP-based network to provide high-bandwidth, cost-effective services such as WiMAX.

About W&T Offshore
W&T Offshore is an independent oil and natural gas company focused primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, including exploration in the deepwater and deep shelf regions, where it has developed significant technical expertise. W&T Offshore has recently diversified its operations by expanding onshore into the Permian Basin. W&T Offshore has grown through acquisitions, exploitation and exploration, holds working interests in approximately 67 fields in federal and state waters and has approximately 30,000 net acres under lease onshore. A majority of its daily production is derived from wells it operates. For more information on W&T Offshore, please visit its web site at www.wtoffshore.com.

Stratos Deploys FleetBroadband on Vega-Reederei Ships

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:46:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (November 29, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is deploying the Inmarsat FleetBroadband satellite communications service on up to 16 commercial vessels for Vega-Reederei GmbH & Co. KG (Vega).

Based in Hamburg, Vega is one of the world’s fastest-growing global shipping companies. Its fleet includes 22 container vessels, nine bulkers and two tankers. FleetBroadband from Stratos already has been successfully deployed on eight Vega vessels. Deployment on an additional eight vessels is expected in the coming weeks.

FleetBroadband from Stratos provides Vega with broadband connectivity while at sea – for email, Internet access and voice communications – ensuring optimal vessel performance, business operations and crew productivity. Vega uses FleetBroadband 250 terminals, complete with an onboard firewall.

For Vega, Stratos fully integrated FleetBroadband with AmosConnect – Stratos’ sophisticated maritime email application – to manage all email, fax, SMS and interoffice communications. Vega officials noted how AmosConnect from Stratos helps them improve monitoring of Whitelist and Blacklist changes. Stratos ChatCards for crew calling also have contributed to higher Vega crew satisfaction by providing easy billing and ordering.

For Vega, the FleetBroadband service also provides an optimal data connection for numerous other onboard applications, including planned maintenance systems, purchase systems and remote management – which allows headquarters personnel to manage the ship’s computers without visiting the vessel. With FleetBroadband, Vega engineers now can achieve high-performance, direct remote access to the ship’s computer terminals, the FleetBroadband terminal and the onboard firewall via popular remote-support applications.

In the future, Vega has the option to use FleetBroadband for engine-performance analysis and emissions monitoring, to help reduce fuel costs and comply with emissions regulations.

The Stratos Advantage suite of value-added services helps Vega attain the highest possible FleetBroadband performance, security and cost control.

“We already have enjoyed the benefits of FleetBroadband from Stratos on several of our vessels for many months and we have noticed it provides very good voice quality. FleetBroadband enables us to achieve fast, reliable data communications that maximize the integration and performance of many popular, IP-based applications,” said Achim Tober, head of Vega’s IT department. “The Stratos Dashboard web-based portal provides us with fully transparent cost and traffic control.”

Tober added, “We expect to continue benefiting from a significant reduction in airtime costs, compared to the Inmarsat Fleet 77 service we formerly deployed. The robust FleetBroadband hardware will result in the highest possible communications uptime. We also appreciate the convenient FleetBroadband Bundles that eliminate the need for capital investment in hardware.”

In the coming weeks, Vega also will deploy Stratos’ new AmosConnect Crew CommCenter. The solution enables personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via calling, private email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates – thus helping retain qualified seafarers. It provides an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember. The Internet functionality of the application is expanded beyond email to include true onboard Internet café features, such as prepaid chatting, prepaid web browsing and access to global and local news services.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “Over the years, Vega’s adoption of the most sophisticated information-technology systems has helped it contain costs and maintain steady growth. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring Vega the industry’s most advance IP-based communications solution, featuring value-added services that help ensure efficient business management.”

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
Stratos has activated more than 6,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About Vega-Reederei GmbH & Co. KG
Headquartered at the Port of Hamburg, Vega is one of the world’s fastest-growing shipping companies. Vega offers its customers a wide range of services that include shipbuilding, shipping operations, chartering, ship disposal and financial services. For more information, please visit www.vega-reederei.de.

Stratos Named World's Top Independent Teleport Operator for Fourth Consecutive Year

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:19:00 GMT

--Annual ranking also recognizes Stratos as sixth-largest teleport operator worldwide--

Bethesda, Maryland (November 18, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is ranked by the World Teleport Association (WTA) as the world’s largest independent teleport operator for 2010. This is the fourth consecutive year that Stratos has achieved the top ranking.

Stratos is ranked first on WTA’s 2010 Independent Top Twenty list, which groups companies based on revenue from all sources, but excludes companies whose core business is ownership and operation of a satellite fleet or terrestrial network.

Stratos also is ranked sixth on WTA’s 2010 Global Top Twenty list, which groups companies based on revenues from all customized communications sources and includes operators of teleports, satellite fleets and fiber networks.

Both lists were announced by WTA on Nov. 15. The WTA compiles its rankings by surveying teleport operators around the world on their facilities, services and business results.

“Being recognized for the fourth consecutive year as the world’s top independent teleport operator is an excellent indicator of our business success in 2010,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “This year, we maintained our market leadership by meeting the needs of existing customers and by establishing strong new relationships in the commercial and government sectors. Once again this year, we are grateful for the opportunity to provide creative communications solutions to many of the world’s foremost maritime, energy, media, government and defense organizations.”

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, WTA (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world’s most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

Stratos and Alcatel-Lucent Team to Enhance Communications For Oil and Gas Workers in the Gulf of Mexico

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:47:00 GMT

Deployment of IP/MPLS and WiMAX technology in the GoM to deliver robust IP services through converged network

Houston, Texas and Paris, France, November 9, 2010 — Tapping into a major opportunity to expand and enhance offshore communications for the oil and gas industry, Stratos Global and Alcatel-Lucent are working together to boost IP connectivity between oil rigs, platforms and offshore vessels in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Bringing IP/MPLS to the Stratos backbone network will be the first deployment of its kind in the GoM.

Stratos is the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions and the owner of the largest and most reliable digital microwave backbone in the GoM. Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext and NYSE: ALU) is a leading global provider of fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services. The two companies have signed a two-year agreement worth $5.2 million to enhance and increase IP communications for offshore oil and gas workers.

“Stratos has been serving the demanding communications requirements of the energy and transportation industries in the often harsh GoM environment for more than a decade,” said George V. Head, Stratos Senior Vice President, Broadband Services. “We are making a significant network investment –- including upgrading the Stratos network from nested ATM rings to an IP/MPLS infrastructure using advanced packet microwave and IP routing technology -- so we can continue offering high-bandwidth, low-latency, high-value and extremely reliable services while minimizing communications costs for our customers.”

The recently launched StratosMAX II broadband service network is powered by Alcatel-Lucent’s packet microwave and IP/MPLS technology to provide last-mile radio connections between remote locations in the GoM and back to shore. The high-bandwidth, low-latency experience offered by StatosMAX II gives remote workers access to reliable voice service, corporate VPNs, high-speed Internet connectivity, Stratos Hot Spot WiFi service and a wide range of mobile communications applications essential for efficient and safe operations in the GoM region.

Stratos is deploying Alcatel-Lucent’s:

9500 Microwave Packet Radio (MPR), managed by the 5620 Service Aware Manager, for a single service aware solution that allows Stratos to optimize service delivery in any condition as air bandwidth is fully exploited for maximum utilization of the radio band and service reliability.
7750 Service Router, 7705 SAR-8 and 5620 Service Aware Manager for a single converged IP network allowing Stratos to offer new IP services in a harsh environment with enhanced quality of service and end-to-end common operations and service management. The IP solution also has the capability to deliver seamless services across fiber and microwave technologies;
Professional services, including project management;
WiMAX gear provided by Alcatel-Lucent under a reseller agreement with Ruggedcom. The integration of the Ruggedcom offering expands the access footprint for customers in the GoM to operate off Stratos’ industry-leading, digital microwave backbone.

“Enabling people working on the rigs and vessels in the GoM to communicate with each other and back to shore has been as challenging as the environment itself. The solution we are deploying for Stratos will enable them to build on their history of offering their customers reliable, high-quality communications and will enable Stratos to offer new services for this special group of customers,” said Walt Paskowski, Vice President of North America Strategic Industries Sales for Alcatel-Lucent. “By selecting Alcatel-Lucent to help move toward an IP/MPLS infrastructure, Stratos underscores its commitment to enhancing their customers’ experience through reliable, advanced communications services and end-to-end, lowest-cost routing back to their land interconnection points.”

About StratosMAX II
Stratos is deploying StratosMAX II to more than half of its planned sites this year and will complete the initial deployment by the middle of next year. StratosMAX II will significantly expand market coverage from Stratos’ already extensive microwave network in the GoM. StratosMAX II service levels will range up to 10Mbps and provide ultra-low-latency communications not available from VSAT alternatives. This low-latency feature enables superior service quality and customer experience for lag-sensitive applications such as corporate VPN access, voice and video communications. In addition to the high-quality connectivity back to the Internet, voice services, and corporate networks, StratosMAX II provides a VSAT-based, service-continuity feature to ensure that mission-critical communications are not impacted by short-duration service interruptions in the GoM. This feature provides customers with a level of performance and reliability that is unparalleled in the GoM. Those seeking more information on StratosMAX II can contact their Stratos account representative, call 1-800-375-1562 or visit www.stratosglobal.com/StratosMAX.

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.

About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted transformation partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic industries such as defense, energy, healthcare, transportation, and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 15.2 billion in 2009 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent’s blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.

Stratos Press Contact
Carla Riggs
Tel: +1-709-748-4857
carla.riggs@stratosglobal.com

Alcatel-Lucent Press Contacts
Peter Benedict
Tel: + 33 (1) 40 76 50 84
peter.benedict@alcatel-lucent.com

Denise Panyik-Dale
Tel: + 1-908-582- 4897
Denise.panyik-dale@alcatel-lucent.com

Alcatel-Lucent Investor Relations
Frank Maccary
Tel: + 33 (0)1 40 76 12 11
frank.maccary@alcatel-lucent.com

Don Sweeney
Tel: + 1-908-582-6153
dsweeney@alcatel-lucent.com

Tom Bevilacqua
Tel: + 1-908-582-7998
bevilacqua@alcatel-lucent.com

Tony Lucido
Tel: + 1-908-582-5722
alucido@alcatel-lucent.com

New BGAN Money Bundles From Stratos Offer All BGAN Services for One Predictable Fee

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:01:00 GMT

--Major Stratos customer from New Zealand is first to activate new package--

Bethesda, Maryland (October 21, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the immediate availability of its new BGAN Money Bundle packages that enable customers to utilize all Inmarsat BGAN services for one predictable subscription fee.

While existing BGAN allowance packages offer specific allocations of data or voice minutes, the new BGAN Money Bundles include all BGAN traffic types – including standard IP, streaming IP, ISDN, voice and SMS – for a single monthly, quarterly or annual fee.

Stratos was the first Inmarsat Distribution Partner to activate the new BGAN Money Bundles on the September 1st program launch date. The world’s first BGAN Money Bundle package activation was for a major customer of Stratos’ New Zealand Channel Partner Wright Satellite Connections (www.satconnections.co.nz). Stratos also has activated its first Money Bundle Shared Corporate Allowance Plan (SCAP) for a customer in Singapore.

BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) uses highly portable, lightweight terminals to provide simultaneous, high-speed IP 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 or non-existent.

BGAN Money Bundles from Stratos are available across all familiar BGAN usage plans, including Geographic plans, Single-SIM Premium & Flexible plans, and Multi-SIM SCAP plans. Stratos Dashboard has been upgraded with these new packages, enabling customers to self-activate all BGAN Money Bundles. Since the program launch, Stratos has been offering a BGAN Money Bundle customer training program and dedicated customer support to help its Channel Partners implement these new packages in their systems.

“Our new BGAN Money Bundles provide customers with the industry’s highest levels of flexibility and economic value,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “These new packages eliminate unused allowances, offer ultimate predictability and accommodate any BGAN traffic type – with subscription plans to meet any operating budget. Also, customers can continue to benefit from Stratos Dashboard high-usage alerts to control BGAN costs.”

About BGAN from Stratos
Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos is one of the world’s largest BGAN distributors, with more than 14,000 BGAN activations in 185 countries. 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 a full range of IP options. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

Worlds Top Broadcasters Use BGAN from Stratos to Cover Chilean Mine Rescue

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:30:00 GMT

--BBC, Fox News and others deploy BGAN for live coverage of dramatic rescue--

Bethesda, Maryland (October 14, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is providing the world’s largest media organizations with Inmarsat BGAN mobile broadband satellite service to broadcast ongoing coverage of the Chilean Mine Rescue.

BGAN streaming services are being used by broadcasters, including the BBC and Fox News, for live video streaming from the remote mine site. The broadcasters also are using BGAN for store-and-forward video clips as well as audio streaming for radio broadcast. All BGAN traffic from these organizations is routed via the Stratos global IP network, known as StratosNexus, into the broadcasters’ headquarters offices worldwide.

These organizations began broadcasting news reports from the remote San Jose mine in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert soon after the 33 miners became trapped on August 5th. Their coverage continued Oct. 13th when the last of the miners was rescued.

BGAN from Stratos enables media organizations to perform at optimal levels at any remote location imaginable. Journalists can effectively use BGAN services with minimal training. The premium BGAN X-Stream service is commercially available worldwide. It allows a guaranteed minimum symmetrical video streaming rate of 384 kbps, with up to 450 kbps expected under optimal conditions.

For this event, these news organizations make full use of Stratos’ value-added services known as The Stratos Advantage, which enable customers to monitor airtime, restrict unauthorized usage and manage costs. The organizations also achieve guaranteed, end-to-end bandwidth for their time-critical data with a Stratos GuaranteedAccess solution custom designed by Stratos engineers.

Stratos GuaranteedAccess extends guaranteed bandwidth from the BGAN terminal through to the terrestrial infrastructure to broadcast centers. Stratos GuaranteedAccess is enabled by StratosNexus, a Stratos-managed Global Core network for traditional and IP-based services. StratosNexus is a redundant and highly resilient network, designed and optimized to carry time-sensitive satellite traffic.

During this rescue effort, Stratos continually monitored StratosNexus and provided frequent status reports to its media customers. Inmarsat also took measures to ensure the usual high level of availability and reliability of its Inmarsat-4 satellite network throughout the rescue effort.

Today’s announcement is the latest example of how Stratos has helped many of the world’s largest media organizations benefit from BGAN X-Stream since the service was launched last year.

“We are grateful these brave miners have been rescued, and are equally thrilled that our service is helping viewers worldwide to celebrate along with the miners’ families and fellow citizens,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm.

Parm concluded, “It is gratifying to provide another successful deployment of Inmarsat mobile satellite services to these important, globally recognized broadcasters. Many successful deployments such as this have helped Stratos become the preferred source for media organizations who wish to use BGAN and The Stratos Advantage to achieve optimal performance and efficiency.”

About BGAN from Stratos
Stratos is one of the world’s largest distributors of Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 14,000 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

Stratos Completes Fleetwide Deployment of FleetBroadband for Taiwan's Evergreen

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:01:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (September 9, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has successfully deployed the Inmarsat FleetBroadband satellite communications service on an entire fleet of 70 container vessels for its long-time customer Evergreen Marine Corp. Ltd. Based in Taiwan, Evergreen is one of the world’s largest international shipping companies. Stratos currently is managing deployment of FleetBroadband on an additional 28 vessels operated by Evergreen subsidiaries.

Evergreen’s selection of FleetBroadband from Stratos is an important part of its program to deploy the latest technologies to ensure optimal vessel performance and crew productivity. To attain the highest possible FleetBroadband performance, security and cost control, Evergreen fully utilizes The Stratos Advantage suite of value-added services.

Evergreen successfully integrated FleetBroadband from Stratos with AmosConnect to manage all email, fax, SMS and interoffice communications. The FleetBroadband service also powers numerous other onboard applications, including remote management, which allows headquarters personnel to manage the ship’s computers without visiting the vessel. It also includes database synchronization and access to the onboard voyage data recorder.

In the future, Evergreen has the option to use FleetBroadband for engine-performance analysis and emissions monitoring, to help reduce fuel costs and comply with emissions regulations. Evergreen also is testing Blue Ocean Wireless (BOW) GSM service. BOW GSM from Stratos, which can be deployed via FleetBroadband terminals, is a dedicated GSM service for crewmembers and officers of merchant ships.

“After a successful trial program last year, we discovered that FleetBroadband ensures peak performance for a wide range of business-critical applications,” said Evergreen Executive Vice President Patrick Lin. “Our crewmembers also benefit from reasonably priced private email, which has helped maintain high crew spirits and productivity. The combination of service affordability and high performance convinced us to deploy FleetBroadband on our entire fleet.”

Lin added, “Stratos completed installation on these 70 vessels in only three months. Efficient system deployment was made possible by Stratos’ ability to provide a single source for installation, airtime and meticulous customer support – from Hong Kong in our local Mandarin language.”

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “With a business relationship that dates back more than 10 years, it is especially satisfying to provide Evergreen with the latest broadband system, backed by The Stratos Advantage value-added applications and our around-the-clock customer service. We are highly confident that our integrated communications solution will provide Evergreen with a strong base on which to implement the most efficient vessel-management systems well into the future.”

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
Stratos has activated more than 5,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About Evergreen Marine Corp.
Founded in 1968, Evergreen Marine Corp. Ltd. is one of the world’s largest international shipping companies. With more than 240 service locations, Evergreen covers more than 80 countries with its shipping network. For more information, please visit www.evergreen-marine.com.

Stratos and Zedi Deploy World’s First BGAN-Based SCADA Network

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:46:00 GMT

--Network provides major oilfield-services firm with high-performance connectivity worldwide--

Bethesda, Maryland (September 8, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has joined forces with its new Channel Partner Zedi Inc. to deploy the world’s first large-scale SCADA network based on Inmarsat’s BGAN mobile broadband satellite service.

Stratos and Zedi recently began deployment of an IP-based SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) network for a major oilfield-services company. The total network will enable several hundred remote unmanned sites to be monitored and controlled from the customer’s global operations center. Those sites currently utilize technologies such as electrical submersible pumps, as well as downhole pressure and temperature gauges in the production of oil and gas. The deployment will be expanded to include progressive cavity pumps and other upstream facilities. This network will replace the end-user’s older-generation Inmarsat GAN mobile packet data service.

BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) uses highly portable, lightweight terminals to provide simultaneous, high-speed IP 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, or non-existent.

This customer network uses Addvalue’s SABRE Ranger, a ruggedized compact BGAN terminal that was developed by Addvalue in partnership with Stratos and the end customer. The Ranger is specifically designed for permanent fixed-site deployment and 24x7 network connectivity in the harsh environments associated with remote SCADA deployments. The terminal delivers high-speed IP data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Stratos is the exclusive Inmarsat Distribution Partner for the SABRE Ranger. Addvalue Technologies Ltd. (www.addvaluetech.com) is a leading designer and global supplier of BGAN terminals.

For this customer deployment, Zedi connects BGAN terminals to the Zedi Intelligent Network to achieve a SCADA solution. The highly reliable and accurate data is then delivered to the desktop through Zedi Access, a secure web portal. By using Zedi Access, the customer is able to make better-informed decisions and effectively manage more wells. Zedi professionals are seamlessly integrated with Stratos Customer Support for all network management.

This BGAN SCADA network relies on Stratos Dashboard to enable optimal network productivity and affordability by providing real-time traffic reports, cost control and online provisioning for new terminals. Stratos Dashboard is the foundation of The Stratos Advantage portfolio of value-added services.

“This groundbreaking global deployment is the result of a strategic partnership between Stratos, Zedi, Addvalue and the end-user that included nearly two years of rigorous testing,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “Before this deployment, BGAN-based SCADA networks of this scale did not exist. This high-profile network firmly establishes Stratos as the leading provider of BGAN SCADA services.”

Parm added, “Stratos has a long history of successfully deploying mobile satellite services (MSS) and microwave solutions to the worldwide energy industry. Our Houston-based Broadband Services Group and global MSS delivery teams have managed critical systems for many of the world’s leading oilfield-service companies. Our new BGAN SCADA service extends and reinforces our commitment to offer innovative SCADA solutions to support the upstream oil & gas, utility, mining, water-management and tower-monitoring markets.”

Zedi President and CEO Matthew Heffernan said, “The integration of our field-proven Zedi Access platform into this custom BGAN solution ensures this prestigious end-user will benefit from high-performance SCADA connectivity in the most remote areas and harshest weather conditions. We look forward to working closely with Stratos to deliver this pioneering service to many of the world’s other premier oilfield-services companies.”

About BGAN SCADA from Stratos
The BGAN SCADA service supports applications for data collection and monitoring of remote assets – including utility substations and oil or gas pipelines. Stratos is the exclusive Inmarsat Distribution Partner for the Addvalue SABRE Ranger ruggedized BGAN terminal, purpose built for SCADA applications. The BGAN SCADA service uses the reliable Inmarsat I4 satellites operating in the L-band frequency, which are proven to withstand rain fade and other environmental factors.

A BGAN-based SCADA network also may serve as the perfect complement to DataSat II from Stratos, the Company’s Ku-band, VSAT-based SCADA service. The 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 across the United States.

About BGAN from Stratos
Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos is one of the world’s largest BGAN distributors, with more than 12,500 BGAN activations in 185 countries. 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 a full range of IP options. Also, StratosNexus offers a secure and managed last-mile solution for SCADA traffic through global Stratos Points of Presence (POPs). More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About Zedi
Zedi Inc. (TSX VENTURE: ZED) specializes in the end-to-end management of oil and gas production operations. Zedi arms producers from the field to head office with accurate, timely and centralized data to help them make better business decisions. Using technology to gather highly accurate data from well sites, Zedi automatically moves it through critical work processes including web-based field data capture and production accounting systems. Zedi technology is continually evolving in the control and optimization of wells to ensure maximum production and cost reduction. Established in 1987, Zedi has enhanced the operational performance of more than 800 upstream, midstream and oilfield-service customers. For more information, visit www.zedi.ca.

Stratos is First Inmarsat Distribution Partner to Reach 5500 FleetBroadband Activations

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:40:00 GMT

--Stratos continues to develop innovative packages to meet the maritime market’s increasing demands for data--

Bethesda, Maryland (September 7, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has reached a milestone of 5,500 FleetBroadband activations. Stratos is the first Inmarsat Distribution Partner to reach this FleetBroadband sales milestone.

The announcement of this Stratos milestone coincides with Inmarsat reaching its sales plateau of 12,000 FleetBroadband activations worldwide.

Stratos’ milestone of 5,500 FleetBroadband activations encompasses all major geographic regions and vessel types, from customers including Wallem Shipmanagement, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Varun Shipping Co., MISC Berhad, Albacora Group, MPC Steamship and the Royal Netherlands Navy. A significant portion of Stratos’ first 5,500 FleetBroadband activations were sold via Stratos Channel Partners.

As the world’s leading FleetBroadband distributor, Stratos understands the need for reliable maritime communications and the increasing demand for higher volumes of data to support critical applications and business communications onboard, along with the increasing need to support crew with Internet-based services.

To meet its customers’ demanding networking requirements, Stratos continues to develop innovative packages – including maritime hardware bundles and global fixed-fee broadband options up to 432kbps. Looking ahead with these developments, Stratos is perfectly positioned to expand its customers’ communications capabilities to take advantage of Inmarsat’s Global Xpress 50Mbps services which will be commercially available in 2014. Global Xpress, utilizing the Ka-band spectrum, will provide the maritime industry with the trusted high performance and reliability for which Inmarsat is renowned.

“Our dedicated sales and customer-service professionals, combined with our valued Channel Partners, have firmly established Stratos as the world’s leading FleetBroadband distributor,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “Hundreds of leading maritime organizations have discovered how The Stratos Advantage value-added services help achieve optimal cost control, high security and easy deployment of their FleetBroadband service. We are working diligently to bring this important service to many other organizations worldwide. We also are committed to continuing our innovative development of packages that meet the increasingly challenging demands of our diverse global maritime customer base.”

Parm added that Stratos also is reporting significantly high activations of another established component of its maritime communications portfolio, the Blue Ocean Wireless (BOW) GSM service. BOW GSM from Stratos, which can be deployed via FleetBroadband terminals, is a dedicated GSM service for crewmembers and officers of merchant ships. Stratos and its long-term trusted partner BOW developed BOW GSM as the first service – using Inmarsat satellites – that enables seafarers to utilize their existing mobile phones onboard merchant ships in deep ocean waters, exactly as they would in port or on land.

To further demonstrate its commitment to continually enhance FleetBroadband and all its other broadband IP-based maritime satellite services, Stratos recently introduced AmosConnect 8. Integration of AmosConnect 8 with Stratos maritime broadband solutions enables users to control their sessions and ensure optimal airtime use directly from AmosConnect.

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid, web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard and AmosConnect 8 from Stratos, provide ship managers with remote IT management, support, messaging services, access and cost controls, high security options, crew welfare services, data optimization and a full range of IP options.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

Historic Mt Everest Expedition Enjoys Reliable Internet Access with BGAN

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:25:00 GMT

--Stratos ChatCard Data enables prepaid, individual Internet access for each member of the expedition team--

Bethesda, Maryland (September 2, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced that the Eddie Bauer First Ascent expedition team successfully deployed Inmarsat’s BGAN mobile broadband satellite communications service on its historic Mount Everest expedition in May. With an elevation of more than 29,000 feet, Everest is the world’s tallest mountain.

First Ascent is a joint venture of Eddie Bauer and Whittaker Mountaineering. All mountain guides for the First Ascent team are provided by Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI).

On May 24th, the Eddie Bauer First Ascent team completed the expedition, which featured Leif Whittaker and RMI guide Dave Hahn. Leif Whittaker retraced American and family history when he reached the Everest summit 47 years after his father Jim became the first American to do so on May 1, 1963. Expedition leader Hahn reached the Everest summit for the 12th time, more than any non-Sherpa in history.

Stratos and its Channel Partner Remote Satellite Systems International joined forces to provide the BGAN system that enabled the nine expedition members to maintain contact with their project team and upload photos, video and dispatches to the First Ascent Blog (http://blog.firstascent.com).

BGAN uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Stratos Dashboard, the foundation of The Stratos Advantage value-added services, was used to monitor BGAN airtime usage during the expedition.

This Everest expedition was a perfect demonstration of Stratos ChatCard Data with a BGAN system. Stratos ChatCard Data enables each BGAN user to expand the use of their prepaid Stratos ChatCard to include Internet access. It also allows users to control their Internet costs on an individual basis.

With Stratos ChatCard Data, each user’s costs are calculated separately and charged via the Stratos ChatCard, a prepaid calling card that can easily be reloaded online with a credit card. It can be used on all Inmarsat and Iridium terminals, including BGAN and FleetBroadband.

“BGAN has proven to be a convenient, reliable communications tool on two trips to Everest and one trip on Mt. Aconcagua over the past two years, and we look forward to using it on our Mt. Vinson expedition this fall,” said RMI Operations Manager Jeff Martin. “For this year’s Everest trip, Stratos ChatCard Data made BGAN deployment even easier because each expedition member was in control of their own use. This was far more convenient than last year’s expedition, when we manually kept track of each person’s usage – which can be difficult at sea level, let alone high atop Everest Base Camp.”

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “This Everest expedition commemorated one of the most remarkable achievements in American sports history. It was a privilege to be a part of the team providing this expedition with dependable BGAN service, enabling them to share their journey in real time with thousands of supporters worldwide. It also is good to know that our ChatCard data solution helped make their entire trip a bit easier. In light of this successful deployment in the harsh conditions of Everest, we also look forward to extending the benefits of this solution to remote camps everywhere – including extreme adventure, energy and mining applications.”

About BGAN from Stratos
Stratos is one of the world’s largest distributors of Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Users can effectively deploy BGAN services with minimal training. Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 12,500 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

About Stratos ChatCard Data
ChatCard Data is a major enhancement to the popular Stratos ChatCard crew-calling feature, which has been deployed worldwide for Stratos maritime customers using Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband satellite communications service. It expands the use of the prepaid Stratos ChatCard to include Internet access. With the new Stratos ChatCard Data feature, all crew Internet-access costs are separated from the ship’s business-communication costs and charged to the crew with the prepaid Stratos ChatCard. Stratos ChatCard Data now provides the same level of convenience for users of BGAN and all other Inmarsat and Iridium satellite services.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost control, instant provisioning, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and full range of IP options. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About Eddie Bauer
Established in 1920 in Seattle, Eddie Bauer is a specialty retailer that sells sportswear, outerwear, gear and accessories for the active outdoor lifestyle. The Eddie Bauer brand is a nationally recognized brand that stands for high quality, innovation, style and customer service. Eddie Bauer products are available at approximately 358 stores throughout the United States and Canada, through catalog sales and online at www.eddiebauer.com.

About Whittaker Mountaineering
Whittaker Mountaineering is one of the world’s leading retailers of mountain climbing gear. For more information, please visit www.whittakermountaineering.com.

About Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.
Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI) is one of the world’s leading mountain-guide services. For more information, please contact www.rmiguides.com.

About Remote Satellite Systems International
Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1995, Remote Satellite Systems International has grown to become one of the world’s leading value-added resellers of the latest satellite communication technologies – specializing in redundant emergency communications and off-the-grid solutions. For more information, please visit www.remotesatellite.com.

Stratos Deploys New StratosMAX II Broadband Service in Gulf of Mexico

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

--New service brings reliable voice, high-speed Internet services to oil cleanup effort--

Bethesda, Maryland (September 1, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has begun deployment of its new StratosMAX II broadband service across the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region.

The new StratosMAX II service provides last-mile radio connectivity accessing Stratos’ industry-leading digital microwave network. It connects customers back to shore through diverse shore crossings and onshore Stratos interconnection facilities.

StratosMAX II now is providing reliable voice service, high-speed Internet connectivity, Stratos Hot Spot WiFi service and a wide range of mobile communications applications to oil rigs, platforms, offshore vessels and professionals managing the Gulf Oil Disaster containment and cleanup efforts.

The IP-based StratosMAX II service is consistent with the high-bandwidth, low-latency features of Stratos’ microwave services and it is competitively priced against VSAT and legacy radio technologies.

Stratos MAX II is based on WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) standards. WiMAX technology is provisioned by Stratos over licensed spectrum across the GoM. Data rates with StratosMAX II are comparable to land-based DSL and cable-modem service.

“Stratos has more than a decade of experience serving the demanding communications requirements of the energy and transportation industries in the often harsh GoM environment,” said George V. Head, Stratos Senior Vice President, Broadband Services. “The introduction of StratosMAX II provides our customers with another significant advancement in GoM remote communications to complement the Stratos microwave network. The new service maximizes performance, flexibility, scalability and ease of use while minimizing communications costs for drilling rigs, platforms and offshore vessels.”

About StratosMAX II
Stratos is deploying StratosMAX II to more than half of its planned sites this year and will complete the initial deployment by the middle of next year. StratosMAX II will significantly expand market coverage from Stratos’ already extensive microwave network in the GoM. StratosMAX II service levels will range up to 10Mbps and provide ultra-low-latency communications not available from VSAT alternatives. This low-latency feature enables superior service quality and customer experience for lag-sensitive applications such as corporate VPN access, voice and video communications.

In addition to the high-quality connectivity back to the Internet, voice services, and corporate networks, StratosMAX II provides a VSAT-based, service-continuity feature to ensure that mission-critical communications are not impacted by short-duration service interruptions in the GoM. This feature provides customers with a level of performance and reliability that is unparalleled in the GoM.

Those seeking more information on StratosMAX II can contact their Stratos account representative, call 1-800-375-1562 or visit www.stratosglobal.com/StratosMAX.

About Stratos Broadband Services Group
Stratos is one of the largest suppliers of vital communications systems (VSAT, MSS and microwave) to the offshore energy industry in key regions around the world, including the GoM where Stratos operates the largest and only comprehensive microwave network. Stratos microwave and VSAT networks provide offshore facilities reliable, high-speed data for file transfers, voice, video conferencing, email, fax and web access – all of which combine to make the network an extension of the corporate office. The Stratos Broadband Services Group is based in Houston, with offices in Lafayette, La., Morgan City, La., New Orleans and Denver.

The Stratos microwave network in the GoM features multiple ring architecture, redundant beach crossings and enhanced systems for provisioning, service assurance and network monitoring. Stratos investments over the last several years to upgrade and expand the functionality and resilience of its microwave network have exceeded US$6 million. Examples include installation of Ethernet radios, replacement of onshore radio hops with fiber optics, and continued transition to an IP-based network to provide high-bandwidth, cost-effective services such as WiMAX.

Stratos Reaches New Milestone with its AmosConnect Maritime Email Service: 250 Million Messages Sent

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

--Popular application is deployed on more than 20,000 vessels--

Bethesda, Maryland (July 21, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has reached a milestone of 250 million messages sent via its AmosConnect maritime satellite communications service.

The vessel transmitting the milestone message was the Crown Garnet from Wallem Shipmanagement. Wallem deploys AmosConnect on more than 100 vessels.

“Over the years, AmosConnect has proven to be an easy-to-use, robust application that has provided a solid foundation for Wallem Shipmanagement’s business and crew communication needs,” said Ian Parkes, Wallem’s Group Information Systems Manager. “As we continue the transition from telex, fax and email to IP data, GSM and VoIP, the ability to integrate these solutions within a single messaging system will be increasingly important. The facilities being introduced with AmosConnect 8 also will support further integration between vessel and shore at the application level.”

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “We reached this milestone quicker than anyone expected. This is further proof of our commitment to meet the maritime industry’s need for integrated communications services that help ensure both corporate productivity and crew satisfaction for an ever-growing global population. Today’s news also is testament to our engineers who design and deploy our AmosConnect service, as well as to our customer-service professionals who consistently ensure end-user satisfaction.”

The latest version of AmosConnect from Stratos, AmosConnect 8, was introduced last month. It enhances new broadband IP-based maritime satellite services which include FleetBroadband, Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek. Integration with these broadband services enables users to control their sessions and ensure optimal airtime use directly from AmosConnect.

The AmosConnect 8 portal brings all ship-relevant data to one central information page. Also, all service settings are remotely configurable from a central office – thus greatly reducing implementation and support time.

With AmosConnect 8, Stratos expands upon its popular application by delivering StratosNet Accelerator, extended remote configuration, cost allocation and extended message filtering – in addition to enhancing its current features of email messaging, automatic file transfer and data synchronization. These improvements help ensure streamlined operations, cost efficiency and optimization of available bandwidth.

The new AmosConnect 8 optimizes the use of satellite airtime by automatically compressing and caching all transfers. AmosConnect 8 also supports all narrowband satellite connections. Stratos’ new AmosConnect hub platform, featuring ultra-modern hardware technology, has been extensively tested and began operation last month.

About AmosConnect from Stratos
Nearly 20,000 AmosConnect from Stratos licenses have been issued and the service is used by more than 200,000 officers and crewmembers on vessels operated by Wallem Shipmanagement, Dockendale Shipping and the Royal Netherlands Navy, among others. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide.

About The Stratos Advantage
AmosConnect is one of the key components of The Stratos Advantage, a range of value-added services that provides ship managers with optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. More information is available at www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com/fleetbroadband.

Cameroon's Equinoxe TV Uses BGAN from Stratos to Broadcast World Cup Coverage

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

--BGAN X-Stream mobile satellite service streams broadcast-quality video from the field--

Bethesda, Maryland (July 13, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced that Cameroon’s Equinoxe Télévision successfully deployed Inmarsat’s BGAN X-Stream mobile satellite service to broadcast news and match results of the Cameroon national team from the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Equinoxe is one of only two private television stations in Cameroon, a country in western Africa with a population of more than 19 million.

The Cameroon national soccer team is Africa’s most successful soccer team, having qualified for more World Cup tournaments than any other African nation. The team played in World Cup 2010 matches against Japan, Denmark and The Netherlands.

Equinoxe used a prepaid BGAN X-Stream solution from Stratos Channel Partner E-SAT (Levallois-Perret, France; www.e-sat.fr) for live broadcast and store-and-forward video clips to provide World Cup coverage to its home audience. Equinoxe aired 30-minute broadcasts every two days, while the national team was in contention from June 14-24.

Stratos prepaid airtime on BGAN offers a convenient solution for media and other organizations to control costs and plan monthly spending. Equinoxe also makes full use of Stratos’ value-added services known as The Stratos Advantage, which enable customers to monitor airtime, restrict unauthorized usage, and manage costs. Most important, Equinoxe used Stratos Dashboard to carefully monitor end-user access and adhere to its prepaid traffic commitment.

“Our deployment of BGAN X-Stream for World Cup coverage exceeded our expectations,” said Théophile Biamou, Chief Executive Officer of Equinoxe Radio and Chief Operating Officer of Equinoxe Télévision. “The Stratos prepaid BGAN solution does not require monthly fees, which makes it very affordable to deploy. We effectively used a free Mac-based encoding application. Also, our engineers found the system very easy to use.”

Biamou added, “Before deciding to deploy BGAN X-Stream, we checked with our associates at Al Jazeera English and they highly recommended it. The system will help us achieve independence from other news networks.”

BGAN from Stratos enables media organizations to perform at optimal levels at any remote location imaginable. Journalists can effectively use BGAN services with minimal training.

“After a long tradition of success, Cameroon soccer fans have become very passionate about their team. It is gratifying to help bring coverage of their team’s World Cup matches to those fans in a manner that is both reliable and expedient,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “We also enjoyed learning how The Stratos Advantage services helped to ensure Equinoxe’s efficient, affordable operation of the BGAN X-Stream service.”

Stratos is one of the world’s largest distributors of Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. The premium BGAN X-Stream service allows a guaranteed minimum video streaming rate of 384 kbps, with streaming up to 450 kbps expected under optimal conditions.

Stratos recently finalized joint-marketing agreements enabling close cooperation between leading codec developers and Stratos technical-support teams. In the coming months, Stratos intends to pursue the integration of these solutions into StratosNexus and The Stratos Advantage.

Major Broadcasters Continue Successful BGAN Deployments
The BBC, Fox News, Al Jazeera English and other major global broadcasters have continued their successful use of BGAN and BGAN X-Stream from Stratos to cover breaking news and natural disasters from remote regions. These and other broadcasters use BGAN from Stratos for live broadcast and store-and-forward video clips from remote locations, or areas where communications infrastructure has been badly damaged. BGAN from Stratos also is used in situations where a VSAT truck is not available or cannot be physically deployed.

About BGAN from Stratos
Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 12,500 BGAN activations in 185 countries. Many customers deploying BGAN from Stratos also achieve guaranteed, end-to-end bandwidth for their time-critical data with a Stratos GuaranteedAccess solution custom designed by Stratos engineers. Stratos GuaranteedAccess extends guaranteed bandwidth from the BGAN terminal through to the terrestrial infrastructure to broadcast centers. Stratos GuaranteedAccess is enabled by StratosNexus, a Stratos-managed Global Core network for traditional and IP-based services. StratosNexus is a redundant and highly resilient network, designed and optimized to carry time-sensitive satellite traffic.

About The Stratos Advantage
Companies utilizing BGAN from Stratos make full use of value-added services known as The Stratos Advantage. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

Stratos Manages World's First Activation of Inmarsat’s IsatPhone Pro

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 08:27:00 GMT

--Stratos begins filling thousands of orders from customers eager to deploy new handheld phone with The Stratos Advantage self-provisioning, monitoring and control capabilities--

Bethesda, Maryland (July 1, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has managed the world's first activation of the IsatPhone Pro, Inmarsat’s new handheld satellite phone. Stratos today began fulfilling more than 2,000 advance orders worldwide for the IsatPhone Pro, which is the first product in the Inmarsat Global Satellite Phone Services (GSPS) family.

The world's first IsatPhone Pro activation was managed for the Colorado Division of Emergency Management (CDEM) by Outfitter Satellite (www.outfittersatellite.com), a Stratos Channel Partner based in Nashville, Tenn.

“We selected the IsatPhone Pro from Stratos because we needed a portable, hand-held unit to supplement our transportable and vehicle-mounted communications systems. For certain security and emergency situations, we must be able to hand an IsatPhone Pro unit to a responder who may be assigned to any region in the country – without worrying about coverage,” said Jack D. Cobb, Communications Manager, Colorado Dept. of Local Affairs Division of Emergency Management.

Cobb added, “We will use the IsatPhone Pro under our Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) deployments and also to support executive security needs and other response situations – both statewide and potentially nationwide. Our applications require the strong background, technical capability and support that the Inmarsat satellite system brings to emergency communications.”

Customers using the IsatPhone Pro from Stratos benefit from The Stratos Advantage, a wide range of value-added services that ensure optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. The foundation of The Stratos Advantage is Stratos Dashboard, which enables customers to manage their use of satellite airtime by providing real-time information on voice and data traffic used, with associated costs.

Stratos Dashboard further enhances the user experience of the IsatPhone Pro by providing instant provisioning, as well as rebilling and reporting options to minimize unexpected invoices and potential financial risk. Stratos Dashboard supports both postpaid and prepaid rate-plan options.

Outfitter Satellite managed the instant online activation of the IsatPhone Pro for CDEM via Stratos Dashboard.

Outfitter Satellite Founder & President Jim McKinley said, “It is a privilege to help Stratos manage the world's first IsatPhone Pro activation. The new service will provide our customers with reliable, high-quality voice connectivity in the most remote locations – to help ensure optimal productivity and safety. Moreover, The Stratos Advantage applications will help make the IsatPhone Pro easy to use and efficient to own.”

Inmarsat GSPS’ full global coverage is made possible by the latest-generation Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellites, which are among the world’s largest and most advanced communications satellites. The I-4s were designed with IP communications in mind and are optimized to deliver high-quality and dependable data communications, well into the 2020s.

“Our global facilities are now beginning to fulfill the large, advance sales commitments for the IsatPhone Pro that we have received over the past few months,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “With our extensive testing phase successfully completed, we look forward to meeting the strong demand for this reliable service. We are grateful for the confidence our customers are showing in our affordable satellite-phone solution that is backed by innovative value-added services to ensure the best possible performance.”

About Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos
Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos offers a competitive alternative to the handheld, fixed and maritime phone solutions now available in the marketplace. The services offer high-quality voice connectivity via small, affordable equipment – ideal for remote workers in the energy, mining, government, media and first-responder communities. More information is available at www.stratosglobal.com/isatphonepro.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos Dashboard is used by many Stratos customers who deploy Inmarsat BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband mobile broadband satellite services. Stratos Dashboard is expected to be widely used worldwide by customers who will be deploying Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos. The Stratos Advantage value-added services 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. More information on The Stratos Advantage is available at www.stratosglobal.com.

Crewmembers Access World Cup Updates with New AmosConnect Crew Solution from Stratos

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:13:00 GMT

--New communications software includes free global news service as part of full Internet functionality--

Bethesda, Maryland (June 29, 2010) – Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today reminded ship managers that its new AmosConnect Crew CommCenter satellite communications software offers a free global news service enabling crewmembers to access 2010 FIFA World Cup updates.

“Providing updates to major sporting events is one of the ways our new AmosConnect Crew CommCenter application helps improve crew morale,” said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. “Maintaining high morale is a proven way to help ship managers retain qualified seafarers.”

Parm added, “AmosConnect Crew CommCenter is earning widespread praise from operators who are dedicated to enabling seafarers to communicate onboard in the same manner as they do ashore. It is also meeting management preferences for simplified administration and cost control.”

About AmosConnect Crew from Stratos
AmosConnect Crew is an all-in-one communication solution for crewmembers. Combining AmosConnect and Stratos ChatCard, two of Stratos’ successful services, AmosConnect Crew enables personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via calling, email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates. It provides an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember. The Internet functionality of the new software version is expanded beyond email to include true onboard Internet café features, such as prepaid web browsing, prepaid chatting and access to global and local news services.

By adding features that enable web browsing, chatting with all major Internet communities, and access to news services, the latest version of AmosConnect Crew becomes the industry’s first complete, pre-paid onboard Internet café solution for crewmembers. It provides the first fully integrated, user-friendly interface for using email, SMS and the Internet.

By using the latest version of AmosConnect Crew, crewmembers only need one prepaid Stratos ChatCard to access all modes of communication. In addition, individuals can be assigned a vessel-independent personal mailbox plus an international SMS number that can be used on any ship and on shore. Emails and SMS messages can be sent at a low cost and receipt of SMS messages and email is free of charge. Along with the pre-paid aspect of the solution, AmosConnect Crew enables users to easily manage their own communications budget.

AmosConnect Crew now also incorporates new cost-reduction and security features that enable ship managers to control the volume of Internet usage, control the size of messages, and minimize risks for onboard systems. The new application also benefits ship managers with greater cost savings and time savings made possible by minimal setup, administration and management requirements.

Several leading ship-management companies, including Hong Kong’s Wallem and Malaysia’s MISC Berhad, have deployed AmosConnect Crew to improve crew welfare. The solution complies with the latest ITF recommendation to offer the option of free private email to all crewmembers.

About AmosConnect from Stratos
The popular AmosConnect from Stratos solution integrates vessel and shore-based office applications. It is an easy-to-use, yet highly sophisticated solution that seamlessly integrates email, fax, telex, GSM text, interoffice communication, and access for mobile personnel into a single messaging system. AmosConnect enhances new broadband IP-based maritime satellite services which include Inmarsat FleetBroadband, Iridium OpenPort, and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

Stratos recently completed replacement of its AmosConnect hub platform with ultra-modern hardware technology. Nearly 20,000 AmosConnect from Stratos licenses have been issued and the solution is used by more than 200,000 officers and crewmembers. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide.

About The Stratos Advantage
AmosConnect is one of the foundations of The Stratos Advantage, a range of value-added services that provides ship managers with optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. AmosConnect also is available in configurations for land-mobile customers using BGAN from Stratos and aeronautical customers using SwiftBroadband from Stratos.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. More information on The Stratos Advantage is available at www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

Stratos Provides Singapore's SE Ship Management with Broadband Crew Communications Solution

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:13:00 GMT

--Solution integrates FleetBroadband 150 with crew-welfare solution--

Bethesda, Maryland (June 7, 2010) – Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has successfully deployed an integrated, broadband crew communications solution for SE Ship Management Pte. Ltd. (SESM), one of Singapore’s leading ship operators and managers. SESM is a subsidiary of SE Shipping Lines Pte. Ltd. (SESL).

The Stratos solution includes the deployment of its AmosConnect Crew communications application on the Inmarsat FleetBroadband 150 (FB150) mobile satellite platform. The solution is installed on the SESL vessels SE Pelagica and SE Potentia – both of which are heavy-lift, multipurpose dry cargo vessels that operate worldwide.

Inmarsat’s entry-level FB150 service combines a high-quality telephone connection with simultaneous IP data at up to 150kbps. The compact and easy-to-install FB150 offers affordable and reliable communications worldwide.

AmosConnect Crew is an all-in-one solution that combines AmosConnect for interoffice communications and Stratos ChatCard for crew communications. The solution enables personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via calling, private email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates – thus helping retain qualified seafarers. It provides an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember. The latest version of AmosConnect Crew is expanded beyond private email to include true onboard Internet café features, such as prepaid chatting, prepaid web browsing, and access to local and global news services.

SESM also will soon deploy AmosConnect Anti-Virus from Stratos, which provides onboard protection against intrusion of Internet computer viruses and malicious software in the satellite broadband environment.

SESM officials said that when they were ready to replace their legacy Inmarsat systems with the latest broadband technology, they relied upon Stratos to recommend an integrated system, as Stratos had served the Company well with creative solutions in the past. The new system integrating AmosConnect Crew and FB150 already has proven to be operator friendly and cost effective. SESM officials report that crew feedback to the new system has been favorable, as Stratos ChatCard rates are very competitive. SESM also reports that Stratos has provided prompt support at every opportunity.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “It is gratifying to continue our established relationship with SESM by providing them with communications cost savings via a uniform system that can be deployed across the entire SESL fleet. We look forward to continue supporting SESM with all of The Stratos Advantage value-added services, as well as with the highest levels of 24/7 customer service.”

Stratos has activated more than 4,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. To attain the highest possible performance and support from FleetBroadband, at the lowest possible cost, SESM fully utilizes The Stratos Advantage suite of value-added services.

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About SE Ship Management
SESM, one of Singapore’s leading ship operators and managers, is a wholly owned subsidiary of SE Shipping Lines (www.seshipping.com). SE Shipping Lines is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Australia, Germany and India. SESL provides end-to-end, customer-driven solutions for worldwide transportation of project cargos and the heavy-lift shipping industry, with a specialization in Windmill Project Cargo transportation. For more information, please visit www.seshipmanagement.com.

Thailands Great Circle Shipping Deploys FleetBroadband from Stratos

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 08:34:00 GMT

--Mobile broadband satellite service successfully deployed on 18 commercial vessels--

Bethesda, Maryland (June 3, 2010) – Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has successfully deployed the Inmarsat FleetBroadband mobile broadband satellite service on 18 commercial vessels managed by Thailand’s Great Circle Shipping Agency Ltd.

Great Circle, which provides technical management services for all of the vessels owned by its parent company Precious Shipping PCL, will deploy FleetBroadband on three additional vessels by July. All 21 of those vessels operate worldwide.

Great Circle’s selection of FleetBroadband from Stratos is a critical part of its ongoing evaluation and deployment of the industry’s latest broadband communications solutions to ensure peak vessel performance and crew satisfaction.

Great Circle successfully integrated FleetBroadband from Stratos with AmosConnect to manage all email, fax, SMS and interoffice communications. The FleetBroadband service also powers numerous other onboard applications, including remote management, which allows headquarters personnel to manage the ship’s computers without visiting the vessel. It also includes database synchronization and access to the onboard voyage data recorder. In the future, Great Circle has the option to use FleetBroadband for engine-performance analysis and emissions monitoring, to help reduce fuel costs and comply with emissions regulations.

“FleetBroadband provides us with excellent performance for a wide range of shore-to-ship and ship-to shore communications, at affordable data rates,” said Great Circle Technical Director Jaipal Mansukhani. “Our crewmembers also find the charges for private email to be very reasonable, which has helped maintain high crew morale. The combination of strong service performance and Stratos’ diligent customer support convinced us to deploy FleetBroadband and the AmosConnect messaging solution on our remaining vessels.”

Stratos is the only Inmarsat Distribution Partner to offer a single IP address service that works globally. The service, known as Public IP Access, enables remote onboard IT support, regardless of the vessel’s position or which satellite is used by the vessel. Public IP Access eliminates the need to change IP addresses when a vessel travels from region to region, thus making it easier than ever to deploy FleetBroadband.

Stratos has activated more than 4,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. Great Circle chose Stratos as its FleetBroadband provider based primarily on the wide range of value-added services that Stratos offers. Those field-tested services, known as The Stratos Advantage, help ship managers attain the highest possible performance and support from FleetBroadband, at the lowest possible cost.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “Great Circle is the latest maritime technical service provider to discover how FleetBroadband from Stratos enables the efficient operation of numerous mission-critical applications. With FleetBroadband as the foundation, ship managers find it easy to derive maximum benefit from applications that help ensure crew satisfaction, business productivity and cost efficiency.”

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432 kbps. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About Great Circle
Founded in 1988, Great Circle Shipping Agency Ltd. provides technical management services for all the commercial vessels owned by its parent company Precious Shipping PCL (www.preciousshipping.com). The Precious Shipping fleet includes bulk carriers and specialized vessels, such as cement carriers. For more information, please visit www.gcship.net.

Stratos to Distribute SkyWave Products for Global SCADA Market

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:45:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (June 2, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is now a distributor of SkyWave Mobile Communications products and services for the worldwide SCADA market.

Stratos has long been established as one of the world's leading providers of satellite-based SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) services to the North American energy and utilities industries, with more than 10,000 sites deployed. Its new status as a SkyWave Solution Provider enables Stratos to offer a wider range of SCADA products to the energy and utilities industries - as well as to numerous other markets - enabling customers to monitor and control their assets anywhere on the globe. These new markets include the field-services and transportation industries, among others.

"For many years, Stratos SCADA-based services have helped customers constantly monitor the status and security of critical assets. These services have improved maintenance scheduling, prevented disasters and reduced production costs," said George V. Head, Stratos Senior Vice President, Broadband Services. "Our new relationship with SkyWave enables us to offer important new SCADA services featuring optimal portability, energy efficiency, self containment, ease of installation and cost efficiency - across all geographic markets."

Alain Nicolle, SkyWave's Director of Sales - North America, said, "As one of the industry's most experienced providers of SCADA solutions, Stratos understands the critical importance of offering the broadest possible range of services for these mission-critical applications. Adding Stratos as a Solution Provider greatly expands our market reach. With its elaborate network infrastructure, Stratos is perfectly suited to bring the maximum value of our product line to a wide variety of end users."

To complement its portfolio of SCADA solutions, Stratos offers a full range of value-added services that are tailored to the individual customer. These include: SCADA-trained, around-the-clock customer support and proactive notification; web browsing; automatic information compression; and shore-side Internet access. Optional voice and fax services include Dynamic DNS, to-mobile calling, instant messaging and specialized telex and graphical fax gateways.

About SkyWave Mobile Communications
SkyWave Mobile Communications is a global provider of Inmarsat-based satellite data communication equipment and services for machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. SkyWave products enable dependable and low-cost tracking and monitoring solutions for the security and remote management of assets over land, sea and air. More than 355,000 SkyWave communication terminals have been shipped to 45 countries to serve customers in the transportation, maritime, mining, oil and gas, heavy equipment, and utilities sectors. For more information, please visit www.SkyWave.com.

Stratos Adds Onboard Internet Café Features to its AmosConnect Crew Communications Solution

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:14:00 GMT

--New AmosConnect Crew CommCenter software uses full Internet potential of Inmarsat FleetBroadband and Iridium OpenPort broadband services in a controlled environment--

Bethesda, Maryland (June 1, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the commercial availability of AmosConnect Crew CommCenter, the latest version of its popular AmosConnect Crew satellite communications solution.

AmosConnect Crew is an all-in-one communication solution for crewmembers. Combining AmosConnect and Stratos ChatCard, two of Stratos' successful services, AmosConnect Crew enables personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via calling, email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates - thus helping retain qualified seafarers. It provides an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember. The Internet functionality of the new software version is expanded beyond email to include true onboard Internet café features, such as prepaid web browsing, prepaid chatting and access to global and local news services.

AmosConnect Crew was originally developed in response to requests from ship managers who wanted a full crew-communication solution that would run entirely separate from the business communication onboard their vessels. AmosConnect Crew is based on the SMSCrewMail application from SMS Global Ltd.

By adding features that enable web browsing, chatting with all major Internet communities, and access to global news services, the latest version of AmosConnect Crew becomes the industry's first complete, pre-paid onboard Internet café solution for crewmembers. It provides the first fully integrated, user-friendly interface for using email, SMS and the Internet.

"The introduction of AmosConnect Crew CommCenter demonstrates Stratos' knowledge of evolving requirements and our commitment to providing ship managers with innovative new solutions to help them recruit and retain qualified seafarers," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm.

Parm added, "This new version enables ship managers to derive maximum value from their FleetBroadband and OpenPort broadband terminals. It also allows seafarers to communicate onboard in the same manner as they do ashore. It fully meets crew preferences for robust, integrated communications, as well as management preferences for simplified administration and cost control."

By using the latest version of AmosConnect Crew, crewmembers only need one prepaid Stratos ChatCard to access all modes of communication. In addition, individuals can be assigned a vessel-independent personal mailbox plus an international SMS number that can be used on any ship and on shore. Emails and SMS messages can be sent at a low cost and receipt of SMS messages and email is free of charge. Along with the pre-paid aspect of the solution, AmosConnect Crew enables users to easily manage their own communications budget.

AmosConnect Crew now also incorporates new cost-reduction and security features that enable ship managers to control the volume of Internet usage, control the size of messages, and minimize risks for onboard systems. The new application also benefits ship managers with greater cost savings and time savings made possible by minimal setup, administration and management requirements.

Several leading ship-management companies, including Hong Kong's Wallem and Malaysia's MISC Berhad, have deployed AmosConnect Crew to improve crew welfare. The solution complies with the latest ITF recommendation to offer the option of free private email to all crewmembers.

About AmosConnect from Stratos
The popular AmosConnect from Stratos solution integrates vessel and shore-based office applications. It is an easy-to-use, yet highly sophisticated solution that seamlessly integrates email, fax, telex, GSM text, interoffice communication, and access for mobile personnel into a single messaging system. AmosConnect enhances new broadband IP-based maritime satellite services which include FleetBroadband, Iridium OpenPort, and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

Stratos recently completed replacement of its AmosConnect hub platform with ultra-modern hardware technology. Nearly 20,000 AmosConnect from Stratos licenses have been issued and the solution is used by more than 200,000 officers and crewmembers. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide.

About The Stratos Advantage
AmosConnect is one of the foundations of The Stratos Advantage, a range of value-added services that provides ship managers with optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. AmosConnect is also available in configurations for land-mobile customers using BGAN from Stratos and aeronautical customers using SwiftBroadband from Stratos.

Next Generation of AmosConnect from Stratos Enhances Broadband Connectivity for Vessels at Sea

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:27:00 GMT

--AmosConnect 8 features flexible design to improve business efficiency, meeting all maritime application requirements--

Bethesda, Maryland (June 1, 2010) . Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the commercial availability of AmosConnect 8, the latest generation of its popular AmosConnect solution.

AmosConnect from Stratos integrates vessel and shore-based office applications. It is an easy-to-use, yet highly sophisticated application that seamlessly integrates email, fax, telex, GSM text, interoffice communication, and access for mobile personnel into a single messaging system.

AmosConnect 8 enhances new broadband IP-based maritime satellite services which include FleetBroadband, Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek. Integration with these broadband services enables users to control their sessions and ensure optimal airtime use directly from AmosConnect.

The AmosConnect 8 portal brings all ship-relevant data to one central information page. For example, the sending of reports and the receipt of weather updates and company news is achieved within the same interface.

With this new version, all service settings are remotely configurable from a central office. This functionality greatly reduces implementation and support time.

With AmosConnect 8, Stratos expands upon its popular application by delivering StratosNet Accelerator, extended remote configuration, cost allocation and extended message filtering . in addition to enhancing its current features of email messaging, automatic file transfer and data synchronization. These improvements help ensure streamlined operations, cost efficiency and optimization of available bandwidth.

The new AmosConnect 8 optimizes the use of satellite airtime by automatically compressing and caching all transfers. AmosConnect 8 also supports all narrowband satellite connections. Stratos' new AmosConnect hub platform, featuring ultra-modern hardware technology, has been extensively tested and began operation this month.

Upgrading to AmosConnect 8 will be easy for the thousands of vessels that are using AmosConnect from Stratos for their daily communications. Nearly 20,000 AmosConnect from Stratos licenses have been issued and the service is used by more than 200,000 officers and crewmembers on vessels operated by Wallem Shipmanagement, Dockendale Shipping and the Royal Netherlands Navy, among others. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide.

AmosConnect is one of the foundations of The Stratos Advantage, a range of value-added services that provides ship managers with optimal communications performance and cost efficiency.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "AmosConnect 8 brings AmosConnect into the broadband era. Its modular, flexible design ensures it will meet both present and future maritime application requirements. It is the latest example of our ongoing efforts to improve crew welfare and business efficiency for ship managers and ship owners."

About The Stratos Advantage
AmosConnect is one of the key components of The Stratos Advantage, a range of value-added services that provides ship managers with optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. More information is available at www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com/fleetbroadband.

Stratos Announces Repayment of all Outstanding Long-term Indebtedness

Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

BETHESDA, MARYLAND (May 3, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced that it has initiated full prepayment of its senior secured Term B debt together with the related cancellation of its senior secured operating facility and Term B facility and has also issued an irrevocable notice of redemption to the trustee for all holders of its 9 7/8% senior unsecured notes due 2013. In accordance with the terms of the note indenture, upon the expiry of the notice period which will be on June 2, 2010, Stratos will redeem 100% of the principal amount of senior unsecured notes outstanding and pay the applicable redemption premium. At the end of December 2009, Stratos had outstanding long-term debt comprising US$209.3 million under its senior secured Term B facility and US$150.0 million of senior unsecured notes. Stratos will use available cash resources and financing from its parent company to fund the repayments.

BGAN from Stratos Provides Desert Connectivity for Second Stage of Ray Zahab's World Expedition Series

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

--Adventurers and Youth Ambassadors are running the northern Sahara to promote water conservation--

Bethesda, Maryland (April 23, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is providing world-renowned adventurer Ray Zahab's "Running Tunisia" expedition with Inmarsat BGAN mobile broadband satellite service.

Running Tunisia is the second stage of Zahab's World Expedition Series to raise awareness of the global scarcity of clean water. Zahab, along with four Youth Ambassadors and other adventurers, began their trek April 16th and will run through April 23rd - a total of 155 miles (250 km) - through the northern Sahara's searing heat and massive sand dunes in a quest to cross Tunisia.

Last month, Stratos provided BGAN service for the 10-day "Siberian Express for Water" expedition, where Zahab and a colleague ran the 400-mile (650 km) length of Siberia's frozen Lake Baikal. BGAN from Stratos performed admirably on that expedition and Zahab's crew is using the same Thrane & Thrane EXPLORER 700 BGAN terminal for the Sahara trek.

Stratos and its Channel Partner Satellite Communication Source (Ontario, Canada; www.satellitecomsource.com) have again joined forces to provide the BGAN system that is enabling the expedition leaders to broadcast content to their web site www.runningtunisia.com.

The expedition leaders are successfully using BGAN to maintain contact with their project team, post photos and blog entries, upload videos, and stream live video conferencing into classrooms across North America. The live video conferences provide a compelling learning experience to more than 8,000 students. During the expedition, students are able to see and speak with the expedition participants in real time - while learning about clean drinking water issues around the world.

Stratos Dashboard, the foundation of The Stratos Advantage value-added services, is being used to monitor and control BGAN airtime usage.

"Given the exceptional broadband connectivity we enjoyed last month in the harsh Siberian wilderness, we naturally decided to again rely upon BGAN from Stratos for our Siberian trek," Zahab said. "I am continually amazed at the system's durability and reliability, which is helping bring our message to millions worldwide.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "It is gratifying to provide the valuable communications service that is helping ensure the safety of the young people and organizers participating in this informative expedition. The ability to stream live video from Tunisia into classrooms thousands of miles away is helping raise awareness of water-resource issues for the next generation of leaders."

Coverage of Running Tunisia will be featured on CNN, National Geographic and Outside.com.

About BGAN from Stratos
Stratos is one of the world's largest distributors of Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Users can effectively deploy BGAN services with minimal training. Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 12,500 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost control, instant provisioning, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and full IP range. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About Running Tunisia
Running Tunisia is the latest expedition for impossible2Possible, a non-profit organization founded by Zahab that uses adventure as a platform to educate, inspire and empower tomorrow's leaders. By running across the northern Sahara, Zahab and his crew hope to teach students about the history, chemistry, biology, culture, and the central role clean drinking water has played in all cultures and civilizations.

Stratos Receives Advance Orders for Over 1,000 of Inmarsat's New Handheld IsatPhone Pro

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

--Customers show full confidence in the new Inmarsat Global Satellite Phone Services with The Stratos Advantage's self-provisioning, monitoring and control capabilities--

Bethesda, Maryland (April 13, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it already has received advance orders for more than 1,000 of the IsatPhone Pro, Inmarsat's new handheld satellite phone - the first in the Global Satellite Phone Services (GSPS) family which will be commercially available in June.

Stratos will stock its warehouses around the globe with the IsatPhone Pro to quickly and efficiently meet customer demand as inventory is available during and after the June launch. Numerous successful Inmarsat GSPS calls were made last week by Stratos as part of the pre-launch testing program.

Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos will offer a competitive alternative to the handheld, fixed and maritime phone solutions now available in the marketplace. The services will offer high-quality voice connectivity via small, affordable equipment - ideal for remote workers in the oil & gas, mining, government, media and first-responder communities.

Inmarsat GSPS' full global coverage is made possible by the latest-generation Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellites, which are among the world's largest and most advanced communications satellites. The I-4s were designed with IP communications in mind and are optimized to deliver high-quality and reliable data communications, well into the 2020s.

From service launch, customers using the IsatPhone Pro will benefit from The Stratos Advantage, a wide range of value-added services that ensure optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. The foundation of The Stratos Advantage is Stratos Dashboard, which will enable customers to manage their use of satellite airtime by providing real-time information on voice and data traffic used, with associated costs.

Stratos Dashboard will further enhance the user experience of these new phone services by providing instant provisioning, as well as rebilling and reporting options to minimize unexpected invoices and potential financial risk. Stratos Dashboard supports both postpaid and prepaid rate-plan options.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "The large, advance sales commitments we have received for the IsatPhone Pro are very encouraging. These customers know that Stratos already has built a strong global customer base in the satellite phone market. They are confident that we will provide them with reliable equipment, affordable airtime and innovative value-added services to ensure the best possible performance from these important new offerings."

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos Dashboard is used by many Stratos customers who deploy Inmarsat BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband mobile broadband satellite services. Stratos Dashboard is expected to be widely used worldwide by customers who will be deploying Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos. These value-added services 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. More information on The Stratos Advantage is available at www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

Stratos Selected as Finalist for Technical Innovation at the Seatrade Asia Awards 2010

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

--Stratos Dashboard is recognized for its ability to help ship managers derive maximum benefit from FleetBroadband--

Bethesda, Maryland (April 6, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected as a finalist for Technical Innovation at the Seatrade Asia Awards 2010. The award will be presented at the third-annual Seatrade Asia Awards gala dinner ceremony at Singapore's Shangri-La Hotel April 26.

The Seatrade Asia Awards signal the beginning of Singapore Maritime Week 2010, a strategic gathering of leading maritime executives from Singapore and around the world.

For the Technical Innovation Award, the independent judging panel of the Seatrade Asia Awards has selected as a finalist Stratos Dashboard for FleetBroadband, an online communications management solution that enables ship managers to derive maximum cost control, traffic control and data optimization from their usage of Inmarsat's FleetBroadband mobile broadband satellite service.

Stratos Dashboard enables ship managers to activate, deactivate, suspend, resume and make changes to their FleetBroadband SIM cards. It provides a real-time overview of all traffic usage, including completed calls and calls in progress. Stratos Dashboard puts users in complete control of all provisioning and monitoring.

Stratos Dashboard for FleetBroadband has been tested and deployed on more than 4,500 vessels, including those operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy, Bernhard Schulte Group, Albacora Group, Wallem Shipmanagement, MPC Shipping and many others.

"In just three years, the Seatrade Asia Awards has become the Asian maritime industry's most prestigious awards program, recognizing excellence in a wide range of categories," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "We are truly honored to be selected as a finalist for the 2010 Technical Innovation Award."

Parm concluded, "Stratos has a strong history of helping ship managers derive the most value from their broadband satellite communications service. Qualifying for this important award acknowledges the critical role Stratos Dashboard for FleetBroadband plays in providing secure, cost-effective communications during these challenging economic times."

The maritime industry has embraced Inmarsat's FleetBroadband as the broadband satellite service of choice. Since FleetBroadband's introduction in 2007, Stratos has accounted for 60 percent of the more than 7,600 FleetBroadband units deployed on vessels of all types and sizes. This market-share leadership is due in large part to the recognized value of Stratos Dashboard for FleetBroadband.

With Stratos Dashboard, usage of FleetBroadband (and soon Iridium OpenPort) can be controlled on a variety of access levels, including service group and individual officer or crew member. For controlled Internet access, Stratos Dashboard includes a firewall which can be fleetwide managed online by the shipmanager. For monitoring traffic and usage, Stratos Dashboard includes a credit control tool for: creating credit-control groups; assigning credit to SIM cards; setting alert thresholds; and sending out alert messages. Stratos Dashboard contains all traffic types, including background IP, voice, SMS, ISDN and streaming.

The latest version of Stratos Dashboard, introduced in November 2009, includes a new suspend option known as Suspend Data. This functionality can be activated manually or as part of the application's Credit Control and High Volume Usage Metering features. Stratos Dashboard users now have the option to suspend only the data portion of their service - or resume all services other than data.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

About Seatrade
Founded in 1970, Seatrade is a well-established brand in the international cruise and maritime community. Its publications, events, management training, awards programs and web sites cover every aspect of cruise and maritime industry and are known and respected around the globe. Seatrade's principal strength is its ability to bring key people together, encouraging innovation and facilitating better communication within the industry. Seatrade is based in Colchester, UK, with regional offices in Dubai, Singapore, and representatives in all major maritime centers and cruise destinations across the globe. For more information, visit www.seatrade-global.com.

About Seatrade Asia Awards
Seatrade has been the pioneer of shipping awards programs since 1988. The Asia Awards program was initiated in 2008 to raise the profile of maritime development across Asia and to underscore excellence in the fields of innovation; safety and quality; social and environmental responsibility; enterprise and achievement, together with education and training. The Seatrade Asia Awards trophy is a reflection of excellence, innovation and success in critical maritime sectors. For more information, visit www.seatradeasia-online.com/awards.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate FleetBroadband, BGAN and SwiftBroadband from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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. More information on FleetBroadband from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com/fleetbroadband.

Stratos Announces Refinancing Discussions with Inmarsat

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

BETHESDA, MD (April 1, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced that it has entered preliminary discussions with its parent company, Inmarsat plc, regarding a loan from Inmarsat to support a refinancing of the outstanding Stratos long-term debt. At December 31, 2009, Stratos had outstanding long-term debt comprising US$209.3 million under its senior secured Term B facility and US$150.0 million of senior unsecured notes. If Stratos successfully arranges financing from Inmarsat and determines to proceed with the refinancing, Stratos would expect to issue a notice of prepayment to holders of the Term B secured facility and a notice of redemption to holders of the senior unsecured notes during the second quarter. As these discussions with Inmarsat are preliminary, there can be no assurance that any such refinancing will occur.

Stratos NAB Booth Features Live Demos of Low-Cost Video Codecs Over Inmarsats BGAN

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:18:00 GMT

--Stratos showcases affordable mobile satellite video solutions for smaller broadcasters--

Bethesda, Maryland (April 12, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, will use its NAB presence to showcase economical solutions that meet the specialized requirements of smaller, regional broadcasters and network affiliates.

At its booth OE1720, Stratos will be the only Inmarsat Distribution Partner providing live demonstrations of low-cost video codecs over Inmarsat's BGAN service via the StratosNexus global IP network.

Stratos has finalized joint-marketing agreements with Streambox and Quicklink to enable close cooperation between these codec developers and Stratos technical-support teams.

At NAB, Stratos will demonstrate Streambox LIVE, an important new many-to-many video contribution service. Streambox LIVE delivers free encoders as part of an end-to-end video delivery service. The service works in conjunction with network-based servers to archive, route and deliver video content from any contributors to studios around the world. In the coming months, Stratos intends to integrate this solution into StratosNexus for an end-to-end broadcast and broadband video solution.

At its booth, Stratos also will demonstrate the Quicklink200 software and hardware solution which is known for its exceptional quality over lower bandwidths. This easy-to-use technology incorporates automatic bandwidth detection and adjustment to maximize the speed that is available on the network. This ensures that the highest-quality video with the lowest latency is obtained automatically. Stratos will work to support Quicklink deployments across its network in the coming months.

These codecs add forward error correction to the video stream immediately after it is downlinked from the satellite, and then transmit the video to the customer's premise with added packet redundancy and recovery for smooth video playout with minimal latency and the highest-possible picture quality.

"Since 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been successfully deployed by broadcasters of all sizes in all global regions," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "These new agreements with Quicklink and Streambox are the first steps toward integrating high-performance, cost-effective codec technology into our BGAN solutions. This is an important part of our ongoing effort to help improve the productivity and reach of specialty broadcasters and affiliates."

Through these initial joint-marketing agreements, Stratos intends to embark on a program to fully embed broadcast media solutions within The Stratos Advantage value-added platform. In the coming months, Stratos will integrate leading video-streaming solutions into StratosNexus for an end-to-end broadcast solution.

Stratos Single IP Access Service
At NAB, Stratos also will brief attendees on the advantages of its new, worldwide single IP access service called Public IP Access. For broadcasters requiring a static IP address to run their applications over BGAN, Stratos Public IP Access enables the use of a single IP address that works globally. This eliminates the need to change IP addresses when traveling from region to region, thus making it easier than ever to deploy BGAN. This new service enables Stratos to distribute traffic across its network through multiple routes, delivering a variety of redundancy options for customer communications access.

Major Broadcasters Continue Successful BGAN Deployments
The BBC, Fox News, Al Jazeera English and other major global broadcasters have continued their successful use of BGAN and BGAN X-Stream from Stratos to cover breaking news and natural disasters from remote regions. These and other broadcasters use BGAN from Stratos for live broadcast and store-and-forward video clips from remote locations, or areas where communications infrastructure has been badly damaged. BGAN from Stratos also is used in situations where a VSAT truck is not available or cannot be physically deployed.

About BGAN from Stratos
Stratos is one of the world's largest distributors of Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 12,500 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

BGAN from Stratos enables media organizations to perform at optimal levels at any remote location imaginable. Journalists can effectively use BGAN services with minimal training. Many customers deploying BGAN from Stratos also achieve guaranteed, end-to-end bandwidth for their time-critical data with a Stratos GuaranteedAccess solution custom designed by Stratos engineers. Stratos GuaranteedAccess extends guaranteed bandwidth from the BGAN terminal through to the terrestrial infrastructure to broadcast centers.

Stratos GuaranteedAccess is enabled by StratosNexus, a Stratos-managed Global Core network for traditional and IP-based services. StratosNexus is a redundant and highly resilient network, designed and optimized to carry time-sensitive satellite traffic.

About The Stratos Advantage
Companies utilizing BGAN from Stratos make full use of value-added services known as The Stratos Advantage, which enable them to monitor airtime, restrict unauthorized usage and manage costs. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About Quicklink
Quicklink Video Distribution Services Ltd is the leading global provider for cost-effective, high-quality broadcast solutions in the fields of news, sport, entertainment and corporate media. Quicklink, headquartered in Bristol (UK), provides the world's top 100 broadcasters with both software and hardware IP solutions for the transmission of live and edited SD and HD video news reports. Quicklink offers the best-in-class for achieving superb video and audio quality, while customization ensures continual improvement and simplification of products in response to customer suggestions and feedback. The Quicklink200 solution comprises free encoding software and a low-cost hardware Playout Server ideal for lower bandwidths. For more information, visit www.quicklink.tv.

About Streambox
Streambox focuses on IP-based, end-to-end newsgathering and contribution services. It delivers SD and HD software and hardware for video compression, transmission, management, and playout. The Streambox LIVE service supplements the Streambox platform with free encoding software and server-based services for scalable newsgathering and contribution. Streambox solutions are based on the industry-leading ACT-L3 codec, which provides unrivaled performance, reliability, and quality over low-data-rate IP networks for fast transmission and playout of video streams in HD and SD. The Company's platform enables broadcasters, government agencies, enterprises, and other users to enhance content ownership, simplify operations, and increase operational efficiencies. For more information, please visit www.streambox.com.

BGAN from Stratos Provides Connectivity for Adventurers Running Siberia's Frozen Lake Baikal

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

--Two runners traverse 400-mile lake to promote water conservation--

Bethesda, Maryland (March 10, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is providing world-renowned adventurer Ray Zahab's "Siberian Express for Water" expedition with Inmarsat BGAN mobile broadband satellite service.

Zahab and colleague Kevin Vallely are running the 400-mile (650 km) length of Siberia's frozen Lake Baikal over 10 days to raise awareness of the worldwide scarcity of clean water and inspire young people to push beyond their perceived limitations. Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the world's largest freshwater lake.

The two men are running an average of 40 miles per day, unassisted by skis or support crew and pulling 100-pound sleds behind them carrying food, clothing, shelter and survival gear. The expedition began March 1st and is scheduled to conclude March 11th.

Stratos and its channel partner Satellite Communication Source (Ontario, Canada; www.satellitecomsource.com) provided the BGAN system that is enabling the two Canadian adventurers to broadcast content to their web site www.siberianx.com.

The two men are successfully using BGAN to maintain contact with their project team, post photos and blog entries, upload videos, and stream live video conferencing into classrooms across North America. The video conferences provide a compelling learning experience to more than 8,000 students. During the expedition, students are able to see, speak to and hear the pair in real time - while learning about clean drinking water issues around the world.

"This informative expedition is a dramatic demonstration of BGAN's ability to provide reliable broadband connectivity in very harsh, remote environments," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "By streaming live video from Siberia, Zahab and Vallely are imparting valuable lessons to students in a very entertaining manner."

About The Siberian Express for Water
The Siberian Express for Water journey is the latest expedition for impossible2Possible, a non-profit organization founded by Zahab that uses adventure as a platform to educate, inspire, and empower tomorrow's leaders. Lake Baikal contains about 20 percent of the world's surface fresh water and is the world's largest freshwater lake by volume. By running across the ice-covered surface of one of the earth's most treasured and fragile lakes, Zahab and Vallely hope to teach students about the history, chemistry, biology, culture, and the central role clean drinking water has played in all cultures and civilizations.

Stratos Expands its Business Operations in South Africa

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

--Move to larger office in Cape Town supports growth in African region--

Bethesda, Maryland (March 9, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has expanded its business operations in South Africa by relocating to a larger office facility in Cape Town. To commemorate this market expansion, Stratos is hosting its annual African Channel Partner event this week near Johannesburg.

From its regional headquarters in Cape Town and its branch office in Nairobi, Kenya, Stratos has successfully served the African market for seven years. During that time, Stratos has become a leading provider of remote communications solutions to prominent mining, energy, maritime, first responder and government organizations on the Continent - with service deployments in more than 30 countries.

The new, larger office will accommodate Stratos' growing staff in South Africa and facilitate expanded local support for customers and channel partners. Stratos' reputation as a global provider offering comprehensive local support applies to every global region, as reflected in the Company's presence with 30 offices in 28 countries.

"The African market for vital communications services has enjoyed consistently strong growth. Within Stratos, we are dedicated to serving the needs of this growing market with all necessary resources," said Ronald Spithout, Stratos Senior Vice President, MSS Marketing and Sales Worldwide. "Our new Cape Town office is the latest example of our commitment to broaden the scope of our business operations across the Continent. We are confident that we are well positioned to serve this important region for many years to come."

Leading African mining and energy companies, in addition to other organizations, have created strong demand for Stratos' comprehensive portfolio of mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions. Those solutions include high-speed data and voice services from Inmarsat and Iridium, as well as Stratos' own VSAT services and its multi-service platform StratosNexus.

Stratos customers worldwide fully utilize The Stratos Advantage suite of value-added services. These services, including Stratos Dashboard, keep costs within budget by monitoring airtime and restricting unauthorized usage. The services provide users with cost control, instant provisioning, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and full IP range.

Stratos Announces 2009 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

BETHESDA, MD (March 8, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the world's trusted leader in delivering vital voice, data and IP communication services today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2009.

Financial Highlights
(in millions of U.S. dollars)

	Fourth Quarter Ended December 31		Year ended December 31
	2009	2008	2009	2008
Revenue	$ 166.9	160.6	$ 644.4	$ 639.0
EBITDA*	$ 25.4	$ 27.0	$ 101.6	$ 102.9
Net earnings	$ 13.2	$ 6.3	$ 31.5	$ 20.9

* EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) is defined by the Corporation as earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, other (income) costs, depreciation and amortization, non-controlling interest and equity in earnings of investee.

The audited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operation are available on SEDAR, www.sedar.com and the Corporation's website, www.stratosglobal.com.

For the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009, the Corporation achieved revenue of US$166.9 million and US$644.4 million, respectively, increases of 4 percent and 1 percent compared with US$160.6 and US$639.0 million, respectively, in the same periods in 2008. The increased revenues in both periods resulted primarily from an increase in revenue in the Mobile Satellite Services ("MSS") segment, partially offset by a decrease in revenue in the Broadband segment. EBITDA for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 decreased by 6 percent and 1 percent, respectively, to US$25.4 million and US$101.6 million compared with US$27.0 million and US$102.9 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2008. The decrease in EBITDA for both periods was driven by a decrease in gross margin in the MSS segment as a result of increased cost of airtime upon the implementation of the new distribution agreements with Inmarsat effective May 2009 and changes in product mix, partially offset by a decrease in operating expenses.

Net earnings for the year ended December 31, 2009 were US$31.5 million, compared with net earnings of US$20.9 million in 2008. The increase in net earnings for the year ended December 31, 2009 resulted primarily from lower interest expense due to lower LIBOR rates and a decreased margin rate, lower depreciation and amortization and the inclusion in 2009 of gains from a hurricane insurance settlement and sale of assets in Germany.

Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2009 were US$13.2 million, compared to US$6.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. The increase in net earnings is due primarily to lower income tax expense as a result of changes in tax estimates during the quarter.

Cash flow from operations (including working capital changes) in 2009 totaled US$41.7 million compared with US$76.8 million generated in 2008. The decrease in 2009 resulted primarily from an increased investment in working capital due to the change in payment terms to Inmarsat under the new distribution agreements.

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 communication 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

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Documents related to this release contain statements and information about potential future circumstances and developments. Such statements and information are qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally and may differ materially from Stratos Global Corporation's actual future results. For additional information with respect to these risks and uncertainties, reference should be made to the Corporation's continuous disclosure materials filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators. Stratos Global Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Stratos is First Inmarsat Distribution Partner to Offer a Worldwide Single IP Access Service

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

--New service assigns a single IP address for global deployment of Inmarsat mobile broadband satellite services--

Bethesda, Maryland (March 8, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today introduced a worldwide single IP access service called Public IP Access, the newest component of the Stratos IP Access family of services.

For customers requiring a static IP address to run their applications over Inmarsat mobile broadband satellite services, Public IP Access enables the use of a single IP address that works globally. This eliminates the need to change IP addresses when traveling from region to region, thus making it easier than ever to deploy Inmarsat BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband services.

With one simple click on Stratos Dashboard, customers choose one default IP address they can use anywhere in the world - without the need to enter a username and password in the terminal. No terminal intervention is required.

Stratos is the first Inmarsat Distribution Partner to offer this convenient service. Public IP Access will become commercially available next month.

"More than 3,000 of our BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband customers use multiple static IP addresses as they work around the globe. Public IP Access enables these customers to keep the same IP address wherever they travel," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "We have worked closely with Inmarsat to develop this new service and we have made significant investments in network optimization to enable fast, easy service implementation."

Since the introduction of BGAN in 2005, Stratos has continually enhanced its global BGAN infrastructure to ensure its customers receive the most productive mobile broadband experience, well into the future.

A key development to introducing Public IP Access, is Stratos' new network Point of Presence (POP) in Hong Kong, which extends the reach of StratosNexus (Stratos' backbone IP infrastructure). This new POP is in addition to existing Stratos POP locations in Amsterdam and New York. Stratos provides the customer-managed Stratos Trench firewall solution on all three POPs, a feature that is not available from Inmarsat on the Inmarsat shared infrastructure. Each Stratos POP benefits from its own regional infrastructure with local terrestrial, Internet access and region-based IP addresses.

This vast global network provides Stratos customers the flexibility to choose the most efficient traffic routing for their needs - to achieve the lowest latency and the shortest route to their headquarters.

In addition to Public IP Access, the Stratos IP Access family includes:

Stratos Private IP Access, featuring a private IP address that is suitable for most office applications. Stratos has more than 21,000 of these solutions in place;
Stratos BusinessAccess, a fully private network or Closed User Group solution between remote users and the corporate network via the secure StratosNexus interconnection, and;
Stratos GuaranteedAccess, which extends guaranteed streaming bandwidth to terrestrial leased lines or ISDN.

BGAN X-Stream from Stratos is Used for Live Broadcast of "Helen Skelton's Amazing Amazon Adventure"

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

--Blue Peter's kayak challenge is BBC News' first use of live 384 kbps video streaming from a remote location--

Bethesda, Maryland (March 1, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is providing the UK broadcaster with an Inmarsat BGAN X-Stream mobile broadband satellite service to broadcast live coverage of Helen Skelton's record-breaking Amazon River kayak journey in aid of Sport Relief.

The deployment of BGAN X-Stream to cover "Helen's Amazing Amazon Adventure" represents BBC News' first use of live 384 kbps video streaming from a remote location. This traffic is routed via the Stratos global IP network, known as StratosNexus, into Television Center in London.

Twenty-six-year-old Helen Skelton, one of the presenters of the broadcaster's popular Blue Peter children's program, began her six-week kayak challenge in aid of Sport Relief on January 20th in Peru and is expected to finish the trip in Brazil at the beginning of March.

By the midway point of her challenge on February 9th, she had traveled three times further than the previous Guinness World Record for the longest solo journey by kayak. She also set a world record for the longest distance in a kayak in 24 hours by a woman, paddling 75 miles (121 km).

Helen hopes her efforts will inspire families across the UK to support Sport Relief. As one of the UK's biggest fundraising events, Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives.

Viewers can watch video postings and follow Helen's progress on Blue Peter's interactive Amazon map at http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/bluepeter/presenters-pets/helen/amazonmap.shtml.

BGAN X-Stream from Stratos enables media organizations to perform at optimal levels at any remote location imaginable. Journalists can effectively use BGAN services with minimal training. The premium BGAN X-Stream service is commercially available worldwide. It allows a guaranteed minimum symmetrical video streaming rate of 384 kbps, with up to 450 kbps expected under optimal conditions.

This project makes full use of Stratos' value-added services known as The Stratos Advantage, which enable customers to monitor airtime, restrict unauthorized usage and manage costs. This project also achieves guaranteed, end-to-end bandwidth for its time-critical data with a Stratos GuaranteedAccess solution custom designed by Stratos engineers.

Stratos GuaranteedAccess extends guaranteed bandwidth from the BGAN terminal through to the terrestrial infrastructure to BBC News broadcast centers. Stratos GuaranteedAccess is enabled by StratosNexus, a Stratos managed Global Core network for traditional and IP-based services. StratosNexus is a redundant and highly resilient network, designed and optimized to carry time-sensitive satellite traffic.

Today's announcement is the latest example of how Stratos has helped some of the world's largest media organizations benefit from BGAN X-Stream since the service was launched last year.

"We are fortunate to have the opportunity to help broadcast Helen's Amazing Amazon Adventure," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "It is gratifying to provide another successful deployment of Inmarsat mobile satellite services to this important, globally recognized broadcaster - which we have served for more than a decade."

Parm concluded, "Multiple, successful deployments such as this remote Amazon trek have helped Stratos become the preferred source for media organizations who wish to use BGAN, BGAN X-Stream and The Stratos Advantage to achieve optimal performance and efficiency."

Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts more than 11,500 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About Sport Relief
As one of the UK's biggest fundraising events, Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives. The Sport Relief Weekend takes place from Friday 19th March to Sunday 21st March 2010 including a night of Sport Relief telly on BBC One and the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile events across the UK on Sunday 21st March. All the cash raised by the public will help transform the lives of those living tough lives across the UK and the world's poorest countries.

Since its launch in 2002, millions of people have taken part in Sport Relief, helping to raise over Ã?Â£80 million. Sport Relief has a unique history of dedicated people doing extraordinary things to rise to the challenge, from David Walliams' astonishing swim across the English Channel to Eddie Izzard's truly amazing marathon a day around the UK. Further information is available on www.sportrelief.com.

Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).

BGAN from Stratos Provides Connectivity for Digital Archaeological Study in Remote Mongolia

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:21:00 GMT

--University of California project, supported by National Geographic, searches for tomb of legendary Mongolian leader Genghis Khan--

Bethesda, Maryland (February 4, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is supplying Inmarsat BGAN mobile satellite communications service to University of California San Diego (UCSD) researchers to support their ambitious archaeological survey in remote Mongolia.

BGAN from Stratos is providing broadband data and voice connectivity to UCSD researchers in the Valley of the Khans (VOTK) as they search for the tomb of the legendary Mongolian leader Genghis Khan. Stratos equipment supplier ViaSat is donating its VRT-100 rugged BGAN terminal for this project.

The VOTK research project, supported by the joint National Geographic Society/Waitt Grants Program, is led by UCSD research associate Albert Yu-Min Lin, Ph.D. Dr. Lin initiated this project using a new, non-invasive scientific approach.

The project is performing a non-destructive archaeological search for the tomb of Genghis Khan, utilizing modern digital tools from a variety of disciplines, including digital imagery, computer vision, non-destructive surveying, and on-site digital archaeology. The search seeks to locate the tomb without disturbing it, thus maintaining respect for local customs while enabling protective measures through organizations such as UNESCO. The VOTK research project was recently nominated as one of National Geographic Adventure magazine's 2010 Adventures of the Year.

"Having access to BGAN from Stratos, with the rugged VRT-100 terminal, provides us with reliable connectivity in northeastern Mongolia's 'Forbidden Zone', one of the world's most remote regions. The service is playing a critical role in helping us maintain the highest levels of safety and productivity while in the field," said Dr. Lin. "BGAN has provided effective connectivity for a variety of media formats and is an invaluable tool for photo transmission and blogging."

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "Our successful contribution of BGAN service for this important project showcases the service's portability and high performance. We are also grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate the durability of the VRT-100 and its suitability for use in a variety of harsh outdoor environments."

Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, keep costs within budget by monitoring airtime and restricting unauthorized. The services 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.

Stratos Distributes New Harris Corporation BGAN Terminals

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:36:00 GMT

--Ruggedized land-portable and vehicular terminals provide secure global broadband data and voice communications for military, first-responder, energy and mining markets--

Bethesda, Maryland (January 18, 2010) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has become a global distributor of Harris Corporation's new ruggedized BGAN terminals. Stratos will distribute the terminals via its direct sales force and its global network of channel partners.

The Harris RF-7800B BGAN terminals are designed to military standards to enable operations in harsh climate and other challenging environments. They are the latest additions to Stratos' versatile portfolio of BGAN hardware products, which already includes offerings from ViaSat, Addvalue, Hughes and Thrane & Thrane.

Available for both land-portable and vehicular applications, the Harris RF-7800B terminals provide Stratos customers with an affordable, high-performance, military-rugged satellite solution. The terminals are ideally suited for military and first-responder users, as well as commercial users in the energy and mining markets.

The Harris RF-7800 BGAN terminals are designed for voice and data connectivity in beyond-line-of-sight, SATCOM-on-the-move and SATCOM-at-the-quick-halt applications. When linked to next-generation Harris Falcon III manpack radios or SecNet 54 encryption modules, the RF-7800B terminals provide unique, end-to-end Type-1 security for data transmissions over long-range commercial networks. The RF-7800B terminals also can be utilized as stand-alone terminals in other configurations to extend voice and data connectivity.

The first two products in the Harris Tactical BGAN line are the RF-7800B-DU024, a Class 2 Land Portable BGAN terminal for dismounted applications, and the RF-7800B-VU104, a Class 10 Land Mobile BGAN terminal for vehicles on the move. Both terminals meet MIL-STD-810F requirements and are specifically designed to work in harsh environments where commercial units are inadequate.

BGAN from Stratos is a 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. Inmarsat BGAN is ideally suited to enable communications in areas where terrestrial or cellular networks are damaged, congested, non-existent or too difficult to deploy. Stratos now boasts more than 11,500 BGAN activations for military & NGO agencies, media organizations, first responders and professionals in many other industries in 185 countries worldwide.

"We're pleased to work with Stratos to distribute this critical new communications capability to military and commercial users with demanding requirements," said Bill Beamish, Director of Product Line Management for Falcon III Radios at Harris Corporation. "Stratos offers a leading global support network and a highly regarded set of value-added services. They are positioned to deliver the benefits of BGAN and our new terminals to customers worldwide."

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "These new Harris ruggedized terminals meet the needs of military forces, first responders, media organizations, and energy and mining companies operating in harsh environments. The RF-7800B product line will particularly benefit military users, by allowing them to transmit Type-1 data and access intelligence networks anywhere in the world, including in the most adverse environmental conditions. This reach-back capability further ties commanders to personnel at the edge, allowing for more rapid and better-informed decision making."

Acquisition of Stratos by Inmarsat

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (April 15, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced its acquisition by Inmarsat Finance III Limited ("Inmarsat Finance III"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc.

On December 11, 2007, Stratos announced that CIP Canada Investment, Inc. ("CIP Canada") acquired all the issued and outstanding common shares of Stratos. This transaction was indirectly financed by Inmarsat Finance III, and as part of the arrangement, Inmarsat Finance III held a call option to purchase 100 percent ownership of CIP Canada, and thus Stratos. After regulatory approvals, Inmarsat Finance III has exercised this option.

Stratos is now a wholly-owned operating division of the Inmarsat group. However, Stratos will continue to operate as an independent subsidiary under existing management. Stratos remains committed to its growth strategy, in providing a full range of fixed and mobile satellite services, and in continued enhancements and development of The Stratos Advantage, an award-winning suite of value-added services.

"With this transaction, Stratos remains focused on delivering advanced communications solutions to our customers and partners worldwide," said James Parm, Stratos' President and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to being part of the Inmarsat group as we move ahead with our growth strategy centered on being our customers trusted partner for vital communications."

Andrew Sukawaty, Inmarsat's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, "The bringing together of Stratos and Inmarsat puts us on a level playing field with our competitors in the satellite industry. We remain committed to selling through our growing network of distributors and service providers worldwide to service our customers. Stratos will play an important role alongside our trusted distributors in bringing new exciting satellite products and services to market in the years ahead."

Al Jazeera English Deploys New BGAN X-Stream from Stratos for Live-to-Air TV News

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Al Jazeera English is the first media organization to use BGAN X-Stream mobile broadband satellite service, which enables streaming of broadcast-quality video from the field--

Bethesda, Maryland (May 14, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced that Al Jazeera English is the first media organization to deploy the new Inmarsat BGAN X-Stream mobile broadband satellite service.

Al Jazeera English began using BGAN X-Stream from Stratos to broadcast live television news coverage of military developments from Pakistan on May 6. Al Jazeera English has since used BGAN X-Stream daily for live broadcasts throughout the Middle East region. Al Jazeera English is the sister television news network of the Arabic-language Al Jazeera Satellite Channel. Stratos worked closely with its UK-based channel partner Applied Satellite Technology Ltd. (AST) to deploy this pioneering solution for Al Jazeera English.

Al Jazeera English's successful deployment of BGAN over the past year, including the use of BGAN X-Stream, led to Al Jazeera Arabic's decision this week to deploy an additional 30 BGAN units for use at news bureaus worldwide. BGAN X-Stream from Stratos enables media organizations to perform at optimal levels at any remote location imaginable. Journalists can effectively use BGAN services with minimal training.

With the help of its channel partners worldwide, Stratos is again the first Inmarsat Distribution Partner to achieve an important BGAN milestone. In October, Stratos was the first to achieve 10,000 BGAN activations. Stratos is one of the world's largest distributors of Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world.

The premium BGAN X-Stream service, introduced last month, allows a guaranteed minimum symmetrical video streaming rate of 384 kbps, with up to 450 kbps expected under optimal conditions. The service is commercially available in Europe, Africa and the Middle East and is scheduled to become available for the rest of the world next month. BGAN X-Stream is supported only by Class 1 BGAN terminals. Access to BGAN X-Stream does not require an additional external antenna or any other supplementary hardware.

For two years, Al Jazeera English videographers have depended upon BGAN from Stratos to transmit video from field locations worldwide to their various broadcast centers. BGAN from Stratos has helped Al Jazeera English broaden the scope of its field reporting while avoiding transmission costs normally associated with satellite trucks.

Stratos and AST have to date provided Al Jazeera English with 45 Hughes 9201 BGAN terminals to successfully broadcast live news coverage. Sixteen of those terminals utilized the BGAN X-Stream service. Al Jazeera English is using QuickLink software for live and file-based video transport and acquisition over IP.

"While transmitting video from major cities worldwide is facilitated by the availability of terrestrial fiber and satellite newsgathering connections, reporting the news from remote areas can be a major challenge, due to the lack of available infrastructure," said Nick Taylor, head of news operations for Al Jazeera English. "BGAN from Stratos has proven to be a valuable solution for remote reporting. It is now clear that BGAN X-Stream from Stratos provides that same reliability, with faster guaranteed streaming speeds giving a major enhancement to picture quality."

Al Jazeera English makes full use of Stratos' value-added services known as The Stratos Advantage, which enable customers to monitor airtime, restrict unauthorized usage, and manage costs. Al Jazeera English also achieves guaranteed, end-to-end bandwidth for its time-critical data with a solution hosted by Stratos. That solution extends guaranteed bandwidth from the BGAN terminal through to the terrestrial infrastructure to Al Jazeera English broadcast centers.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "Our ability to partner with AST to support Al Jazeera English's demanding video-streaming requirements and enable its reporting of critical breaking news events is truly gratifying. We look forward to helping Al Jazeera English and other media organizations use BGAN, BGAN X-Stream and The Stratos Advantage to achieve optimal performance and efficiency."

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About Al Jazeera English
Al Jazeera English is the first English language world news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East. Launched in November 2006, Al Jazeera English is setting the global news agenda and acts as a bridge between cultures. With unique access as the channel of reference for Middle East events, and broadcast centers strategically placed around the world in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, Al Jazeera English is balancing the information flow from South to North, providing independent and impartial news for a global audience from a grass roots level, giving voice to different perspectives from under-reported regions around the world. Al Jazeera English is available in over 100 countries to over 140 million households worldwide, and was recently awarded "Best 24 Hour News Program" at the 48th Annual Monte Carlo Television Festival. The channel also recently received its first three International Emmy nominations in both news and current affairs, for its groundbreaking coverage of the military crackdown in Myanmar and for its Red Mosque coverage. Visit www.aljazeera.net/english for more details.

For information on BGAN X-Stream, please call us anytime at +1 709 748 4226 (toll-free in North America 1 800 563 2255) or e-mail support@stratosglobal.com.

Commercial Fishing Company Albacora Deploys FleetBroadband from Stratos

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--FleetBroadband speeds fish finding, thereby reducing fuel consumption--

Bethesda, Maryland (March 23, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has successfully completed an Inmarsat FleetBroadband field trial with Spain's Albacora Group.

The three-month field trial was conducted onboard the Albacora tuna fishing vessel Albatun Dos in the Indian Ocean. Stratos channel partner Satlink managed the installation of a FleetBroadband 250 terminal manufactured by JRC, which was integrated with the vessel's local-area network.

The successful trial led to Albacora Group retaining the FleetBroadband from Stratos system, which it will use to manage the Albatun Dos' daily operations at sea.

Applications successfully tested over FleetBroadband during the trial included the Albatun Dos office applications, videoconferencing and fish-finding programs CatSat and SeaStar. The broadband speed and greater functionality of FleetBroadband helped the Albatun Dos locate tuna more efficiently.

"The data transmission speed over FleetBroadband is very fast. It is also constantly connected, which allows us to download information in real time," said Albatun Dos Captain Pablo Abaroa. "The vessel's operations have definitely been enhanced by FleetBroadband, because we can now download fishing data more quickly, and thus save fuel and time."

Abaroa added, "FleetBroadband enables us to make several data connections at the same time, while also sending emails and making calls. The quality of voice calls was also much better than with previous systems."

The FleetBroadband system onboard the Albatun Dos is operated under strict cost-control rules, easily configured using Stratos Dashboard. With FleetBroadband from Stratos, the vessel is transmitting higher data volumes than before the trial, at the same spending levels.

The successful Albatun Dos field trial was one in an extensive global series of trials that Stratos is conducting to secure feedback from ship managers on FleetBroadband from Stratos and its wide range of value-added services. Stratos has activated several hundred FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "When the productive Albatun Dos deployment is viewed together with other recent, successful trials, it is clear that FleetBroadband from Stratos is ideally suited to manage all mission-critical applications onboard fishing vessels, container ships and tankers. It is gratifying to know that we are helping the Albatun Dos experience the most profitable voyage possible."

FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband from Stratos also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos is now available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers will find that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek and Iridium OpenPort.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range. More than 10,000 mobile users in 180 countries already utilize The Stratos Advantage for BGAN, the land-based version of FleetBroadband. The Stratos Advantage is now fully available for FleetBroadband. Customers utilizing FleetBroadband from Stratos have already begun taking full advantage of this new maritime offering.

About Albacora Group
The Albacora Group is comprised of companies in the tuna industry that specialize in fishing, transportation, storage, distribution, selling and packaging. For more information visit www.albacora.es/en.

FCC Approves Transfer Application

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BETHESDA, MD (January 19, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation ("Stratos") today announced that the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued its order approving the transfer of Stratos' FCC licenses from an irrevocable trust, in which CIP Canada Investment, Inc. ("CIP Canada") deposited Stratos' shares, to Inmarsat, plc. Under the terms of the transaction, which closed on December 11, 2007, Inmarsat Finance III Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Inmarsat, plc, has a call option over 100 percent of CIP Canada beginning on April 15, 2009 and expiring in December 2010. The exercise of the Inmarsat call option remains subject to certain other governmental approvals, which the parties expect to obtain in advance of the April 15, 2009 exercise date.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Enables Broadcast Coverage of Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (August 4, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has deployed an Inmarsat FleetBroadband mobile satellite system onboard the tall ship Bark Europa to broadcast coverage of the final leg of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge between Halifax and Belfast. The system is being used by BBC Northern Ireland.

The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 (www.tallshipsraces.org) is organized by Sail Training International and the American Sail Training Assoc. In April, more than 30 tall ships began competing in a series of races that will eventually cover more than 7,000 miles including ports in Spain, Africa, Bermuda, Canada and Northern Ireland. The final leg of the race began July 20 in Halifax and is scheduled to end in Belfast on August 13.

FleetBroadband from Stratos is being used onboard the Bark Europa (www.barkeuropa.com) to provide live and recorded reports during the race's final leg.

The system is integrated with QuickLink software to enable live video streaming at speeds of 256 kpbs. It is also utilizing Stratos Dashboard to set high-usage alerts and monitor traffic usage. Stratos Trench, an online customer-managed firewall utility, is preventing unauthorized access.

Many media organizations have successfully deployed the land version of this mobile broadband satellite system, BGAN from Stratos, to deliver live and recorded news from remote regions of the world. From the initial BGAN service, the technology has been expanded into the maritime world with the launch of FleetBroadband, offering a cost-effective, high-speed and voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location.

Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to ensure optimal FleetBroadband performance, management control and cost efficiency.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "Our work on this project represents our most recent successful deployment of Inmarsat mobile satellite services in our 10 years of service to this important, globally recognized broadcaster. FleetBroadband from Stratos is ideally suited to bring the excitement and action of this popular sailing event to a large global audience via a wide range of media."

Stratos' success serving the broadband communications needs of the most prestigious maritime races is well documented. Stratos is the official provider of mobile satellite services to the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09, the world's premier offshore yachting event covering almost 37,000 nautical miles in nine months. FleetBroadband from Stratos, and other Inmarsat services, provided the communications foundation for the race - for position reporting, sending live video footage or photos of onboard action to the world's media, safety communications, and boosting crew morale by enabling them to call and email their families back home. For the first time this year, dedicated media crew members aboard each racing yacht used FleetBroadband from Stratos to set up live videoconferences, broadcast audio, send photographs, post email blogs and transmit daily HDTV video to a worldwide audience of billions.

After more than 1,000 activations, communications managers worldwide have found that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek and Iridium OpenPort.

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. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com.

The BBC reports are available on the BBC Newsline website www.bbc.co.uk/newsline.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Supports First European Contract for Electronic Fishing Logbooks

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Integrated solution is migrating 100 Irish fishing vessels to electronic reporting--

Bethesda, Maryland (November 19, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is part of a team that has won the first European contract to migrate fishing vessels from a paper logbook system to electronic recording and reporting.

The contract to fit up to 100 fishing vessels, awarded by Ireland's Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), is seen as a blueprint for the European fishing industry. SFPA selected a solution that included Inmarsat FleetBroadband mobile broadband satellite service from Stratos, Satlink FB250 satellite communications hardware and Sirius IT vCatch e-logbook software.

The solution follows new European Union (EU) legislation designed to capture real-time information on the amount of fish being caught by member states. The goal is to improve the sustainability of the world's fish supplies by ensuring stocks are harvested efficiently. More than 10,000 vessels across Europe are expected to convert to e-logbooks by early 2010.

As an additional benefit, FleetBroadband from Stratos can be used to improve crew welfare by providing fishermen with broadband web access, email, SMS and voice communications - as well as access to the latest news services.

"By working closely with team-leader Satlink, Inmarsat and Sirius, we have engineered a FleetBroadband solution that is ideally suited to meet the demanding requirements of the SFPA and all bodies charged with the long-term future of electronic recording," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm.

He added, "Today the performance of fisheries management organizations and their control of fisheries are often hamstrung by the latency and inaccuracy of existing paper logbook systems. This integrated solution provides the SFPA with the world's most effective maritime communications service, ensuring the best management strategy for the resources and the industry."

Stratos has activated more than 2,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. Customers selecting Stratos as their FleetBroadband provider are attracted to the wide range of value-added services that Stratos offers. Those field-tested services, known as The Stratos Advantage, help ship managers attain the highest possible performance and support from FleetBroadband, at the lowest possible cost.

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range. More than 11,500 mobile users in 180 countries already utilize The Stratos Advantage for BGAN, the land-based version of FleetBroadband.

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. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com.

Iridium and Stratos Provide Satellite Communications for "Around the Americas" Sailing Expedition

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BETHESDA, Md. - July 6, 2009 - Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium) and Stratos Global Corp. (Stratos) have teamed to provide satellite communication equipment and services for the "Around the Americas" sailing expedition, which got underway from Seattle on May 31, 2009. Stratos installed an Iridium OpenPort® high-bandwidth marine satcom system on the expedition's 64-foot steel-hull sailboat, Ocean Watch. The system is providing voice and high-speed data connections throughout the 13-month, 25,000-mile circumnavigation of the North and South American continents.

Around the Americas is a research expedition that will collect scientific data and test new methods and equipment - all to raise awareness of the precipitous changes that are occurring in the earth's oceans and to promote solutions to mitigate those changes.

Ten scientists from the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory (UW-APL), the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO), RMR Co., MIT Sea Grant, NASA and Western Washington University have placed a diverse suite of instruments onboard Ocean Watch to monitor polar science, weather, jellyfish populations and solar-energy reflection, among other conservation projects.

"Since Iridium is the only service that can provide voice and data coverage throughout our entire voyage, Iridium OpenPort will serve as our primary communication device and critical lifeline to the outside world," said Around the Americas expedition leader Mark Schrader. "This high-performance system will give us access to enhanced-bandwidth satellite voice and data links between ship and shore during the course of our voyage/expedition. The Iridium OpenPort terminal will enable us to transmit reports, blogs and images to the thousands of people who will follow our voyage on the Internet, as well as speak to our families during this long journey."

Greg Ewert, Iridium's executive vice president, Global Distribution Channels, said, "Iridium OpenPort is a breakthrough product for the maritime market, as it is the only truly global high-bandwidth mobile satellite system. The Iridium OpenPort system has gone through a rigorous testing program, both onshore and afloat on a variety of platforms. As a result, it has a robust, proven system that operates reliably in the marine environment, even on smaller vessels with high-dynamic rolling and pitching motions."

Stratos senior vice president, sales and marketing, Ronald Spithout said, "During the boat's navigation of the Northwest Passage from the Pacific to Atlantic this summer, it will be sailing at very high latitudes. Iridium is the only satellite system that can ensure dependable, uninterrupted communication in those waters."

Ocean Watch will sail around the American continents in a clockwise direction, transiting the Northwest Passage, sailing down the East Coast, around Cape Horn, and back up the West Coast, returning to Seattle in July 2010. Notably, this will be one of the first times a sailboat has navigated through the Northwest Passage from west to east.

Over the course of the voyage, Ocean Watch will visit 30 ports in 11 countries where the crew will host media events and educational programs for local schools to educate citizens about issues affecting conservation of the earth's oceans. A real-time map of the voyage can be found at www.aroundtheamericas.org, as can information on Ocean Watch, the crew, the expedition's partners and more.

The Iridium OpenPort terminal has three independent phone circuits and a separate high-speed data port with scalable rates of 9.6 to 128 kbps. The lightweight, omni-directional antenna array is about the size of a typical small boat radar radome. It contains no moving parts, which greatly reduces cabling, installation and maintenance costs.

About Iridium Satellite LLC
Iridium Satellite LLC (www.iridium.com) is the only mobile satellite service (MSS) company offering coverage over the entire globe. The Iridium constellation of low-earth orbiting (LEO), cross-linked satellites provides critical voice and data services for areas not served by terrestrial communication networks. Iridium's subscriber growth has been driven by increasing demand for reliable, global communications. Iridium serves commercial and government markets through a worldwide network of hundreds of distributors. The company's customers represent a broad spectrum of industry, including maritime, aeronautical, government/defense, public safety, utilities, oil/gas, mining, forestry, heavy equipment and transportation. Iridium has launched a major development program for its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT, which will result in continued and new Iridium MSS offerings. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., U.S., and is currently privately held.

JSAT MOBILE is Granted License to Offer BGAN and FleetBroadband Services in Japan

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (February 18, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation (Stratos) today announced that JSAT MOBILE Communications Inc. (JSAT MOBILE) has been granted a radio license by the Kanto Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The license authorizes JSAT MOBILE to offer Inmarsat BGAN and FleetBroadband mobile satellite communications services in Japan and on Japanese-registered vessels.

The license is effective from February 17, ensuring that JSAT MOBILE is prepared when Inmarsat's I-4 F3 satellite becomes operational as scheduled on February 24. On that date, Inmarsat will begin offering full global coverage for BGAN and FleetBroadband, adding Pacific Ocean coverage to its existing coverage of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

Stratos formed the joint venture company JSAT MOBILE in August with SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SKY Perfect JSAT) to serve the mobile satellite communications needs of Japanese businesses and government agencies. Stratos is a leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions. SKY Perfect JSAT is a leading satellite operator in the Asia-Pacific region. Other shareholders in JSAT MOBILE include FURUNO Electric Co., Ltd. and Japan Radio Co., Ltd.

Inmarsat's BGAN and FleetBroadband mobile satellite offerings use portable, lightweight terminals to provide simultaneous, high-speed data and voice connectivity anywhere in the world.

BGAN from Stratos (with data speeds up to 492 kbps) is ideally suited to enable land-mobile communications in areas where terrestrial or cellular networks are damaged, congested, non-existent or too difficult to deploy. Stratos now boasts more than 10,000 BGAN activations for military & NGO agencies, media organizations, first responders and professionals in many other industries in 185 countries worldwide.

For the maritime market, FleetBroadband from Stratos provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates (up to 432 kbps), regardless of the vessel's location. Stratos has activated hundreds of FleetBroadband terminals for commercial, military and leisure vessels.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "With the necessary licenses in place, JSAT MOBILE can now begin using its strong local team to meet the growing Japanese demand for the very latest mobile satellite services."

About JSAT MOBILE
JSAT MOBILE brings Stratos' extensive portfolio of mobile satellite services, including both Inmarsat and Iridium services, to the Japanese market. The Stratos portfolio includes a wide range of value-added services to help customers achieve optimal communications performance and cost efficiency.

About SKY Perfect JSAT
SKY Perfect JSAT is Japan's first private-sector satellite operator. Founded in 1985, it has become the largest satellite operator in the Asia-Pacific region, with 12 satellites covering Asia, Oceania, Hawaii and North America. SKY Perfect JSAT's mission is to support businesses and enhance the daily lives of consumers through the use of satellite communications. To achieve this mission, the Company provides a wide range of services, including satellite TV platform SKY PerfecTV! and SKY PerfecTV!e2. The Company also provides video transmission and data communications services for corporations, as well as services that help bridge the digital divide for public-service organizations and government agencies. For more information visit www.sptvjsat.com/en/.

Latest Version of Stratos Dashboard Provides Even Greater Control of Mobile Broadband Costs

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Application helps users provision service, monitor airtime and control costs of Inmarsat mobile broadband satellite services--

Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the commercial availability of the latest version of its Stratos Dashboard application. The new version includes features that enable optimal control of mobile broadband costs.

Stratos Dashboard is the foundation of The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services utilized by nearly 14,000 Stratos customers to keep Inmarsat mobile broadband voice/data service costs within budget by monitoring airtime and restricting unauthorized usage.

The new version of Stratos Dashboard includes a new suspend option known as Suspend Data. This functionality can be activated manually or as part of the application's Credit Control and High Volume Usage Metering (HVUM) features. Stratos Dashboard users now have the option to suspend only the data portion of their service - or resume all services other than data - to contain costs at any time during a service period. This new level of flexibility is especially valuable for maritime users, who wish to maintain critical voice communications at sea while keeping broadband data use within pre-determined monthly allocations.

Improved HVUM functionality in the latest version of Stratos Dashboard enables users to suspend service and automatically resume the SIM card when a new period starts. The application now also features navigational and layout improvements to facilitate ease of use.

"Our latest version of Stratos Dashboard helps us maintain a clear advantage over competing offerings. It delivers the flexibility and tactical improvements that make the latest mobile broadband services easy to use and efficient to own." said Ian Canning, Stratos Vice President, Marketing & Product Management.

The Stratos Advantage services help elevate BGAN from Stratos, FleetBroadband from Stratos and SwiftBroadband from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These convenient applications 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. The applications also are deployed to manage older-generation Inmarsat mobile satellite systems, Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services and Iridium mobile satellite offerings.

Stratos Dashboard enables users to do their own service provisioning, and control traffic using HVUM and Credit Control features. The application provides full access to real-time traffic overviews, billing information and firewall settings.

Media Deployment of BGAN from Stratos is Featured at NAB

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--BGAN mobile broadband satellite service enables rapid response, streaming of broadcast-quality video from the field--

--New BGAN X-Stream premium service will also be showcased--

Bethesda, Maryland (April 6, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it will use the upcoming NAB Show to feature recent deployments of BGAN from Stratos by leading media organizations. Stratos experts will provide BGAN demonstrations and explain recent media deployments April 20-23 in Las Vegas at NAB booth OE411.

Stratos is one of the world's largest distributors of Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide simultaneous video (up to 256 kbps streaming), 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.

At NAB, Stratos will also provide briefings on Inmarsat's new premium BGAN X-Stream mobile satellite service, which will soon become commercially available. BGAN X-Stream will allow a guaranteed minimum video streaming rate of 384 kbps, with streaming up to 450 kbps expected under optimal conditions.

BGAN X-Stream will be supported only by Class 1 BGAN terminals. Access to BGAN X-Stream will not require an additional external antenna or any other supplementary hardware. BGAN and BGAN X-Stream customers can achieve guaranteed, end-to-end bandwidth for their time-critical data by using Stratos GuaranteedAccess, which extends guaranteed bandwidth to the terrestrial infrastructure via ISDN or leased lines.

From its NAB booth, Stratos will detail recent successful BGAN deployments, including those by ABC-TV affiliate KSWO (Lawton, Okla.) and French news channel BFM-TV. KSWO uses BGAN as a lightweight SNG tool, enabling transmission of broadcast-quality video from the field. The station also deploys BGAN as a backup technology for disaster-recovery scenarios. KSWO is supported by Stratos channel partner Galaxy 1 (booth OE413). Stratos executive Hugh Donnan will detail KSWO's deployment in his NAB presentation "Satellite Communications and the Affiliate Broadcaster" on April 21 at 9 a.m.

French 24-hour news channel BFM-TV uses BGAN from Stratos with SeaMobile Europe's Media ClipWay software to capture, compress, and transmit both live broadcasts and pre-recorded video from the field. The Stratos Advantage value-added services help BFM-TV monitor airtime, restrict unauthorized usage, and manage costs.

In related news, Inmarsat's FleetBroadband (the maritime version of BGAN) is being successfully deployed by media specialists onboard racing yachts competing in the Volvo Ocean Race, of which Stratos is the official mobile satellite services sponsor. FleetBroadband from Stratos connects the boats with the race organizer and brings live race video and interviews in HDTV to race fans worldwide.

"It is gratifying to see how the wide adoption of BGAN from Stratos is helping media organizations perform at optimal levels at any remote location imaginable," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "By combining the performance and portability of BGAN with our value-added services to ensure secure and efficient operations, top media organizations are delivering the news anywhere, anytime."

About The Stratos Advantage

Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

MPC Steamship Deploys FleetBroadband from Stratos

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Stratos has activated more than 2,000 FleetBroadband systems--

Bethesda, Maryland (November 11, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has successfully deployed the Inmarsat FleetBroadband mobile broadband satellite service for MPC Steamship, a fast-growing commercial shipping company managing 17 container vessels and bulk carriers.

FleetBroadband from Stratos was deployed onboard the Yangtze River bulk-carrier vessel, which operates worldwide. With plans to double its fleet by 2011, MPC is evaluating and deploying the industry's latest communications solutions to ensure peak vessel performance and crew satisfaction. In the coming years, MPC expects to deploy FleetBroadband from Stratos on the remainder of its existing fleet and the new service will be automatically installed on all new ships.

MPC successfully integrated FleetBroadband from Stratos with AmosConnect from Stratos to manage all email, fax, SMS and interoffice communications. The FleetBroadband service also powers numerous other applications onboard the Yangtze River, including remote management, which allows headquarters office personnel to help manage the ship's computers. It also includes database synchronization and access to the onboard voyage data recorder. In the future, MPC also has the option to use FleetBroadband for engine-performance analysis and emissions monitoring.

"Once deployment was completed, it became very clear that FleetBroadband is the future of maritime communications. It truly brings the vessel and the office closer together," said MPC Ships IT Manager Thomas Höenig. "FleetBroadband also enables the vessel to establish one static IP address, meaning the vessel is reachable anywhere in the world where there is an Internet connection."

Stratos has activated more than 2,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. MPC chose Stratos as its FleetBroadband provider based primarily on the wide range of value-added services that Stratos offers. Those field-tested services, known as The Stratos Advantage, help ship managers attain the highest possible performance and support from FleetBroadband, at the lowest possible cost.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "Many of today's most progressive shipping companies are discovering that FleetBroadband from Stratos provides an excellent communications platform on which to run a host of mission-critical applications. With FleetBroadband as the foundation, ship managers can get the most value from applications that help ensure crew satisfaction, business productivity and cost efficiency."

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage

With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range. More than 10,000 mobile users in 180 countries already utilize The Stratos Advantage for BGAN, the land-based version of FleetBroadband. The Stratos Advantage is now fully available for FleetBroadband. Customers utilizing FleetBroadband from Stratos have already begun taking full advantage of this new maritime offering.

About MPC Steamship
MPC Steamship was founded in 2001 and now manages 17 vessels. The Company is based in Hamburg, Germany and is part of the MPC Group. For more information, please visit www.mpc-steamship.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 communication 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 indirect subsidiary of Inmarsat plc. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com

New Stratos Programs Attract First-Time Buyers of Mobile Broadband Services

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--New BGAN and FleetBroadband customers can select plans featuring low starting rates and no capital investment--

Bethesda, Maryland (July 21, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today unveiled two new pricing programs designed to make it easy for first-time buyers to experience the benefits of the industry's most popular mobile broadband services. The plans enable new customers to deploy Inmarsat BGAN and FleetBroadband services by bundling equipment and airtime with no capital investment, or take advantage of new starter plans with lower usage allowances.

BGAN and FleetBroadband Bundles Simplify Purchase
BGAN Bundles from Stratos and FleetBroadband Bundles from Stratos offer first-time users equipment and airtime for one low monthly payment, with no activation fees and no capital investment. With these bundled offerings, customers are able to keep their BGAN or FleetBroadband terminals at the end of the contract period.

BGAN and FleetBroadband Starter Plans Feature Affordability, Flexibility
BGAN Starter Plans from Stratos and FleetBroadband Starter Plans from Stratos offer new customers one monthly rate with no subscription fees, no activation fees and low usage allowances. By paying for a year of service in advance, Starter Plan customers receive access to their minute and/or bandwidth allowance anytime within that 12-month period.

Included in all of these new plans are The Stratos Advantage value-added services that enable users to keep costs within budget by monitoring airtime and restricting unauthorized usage.

"Progressive companies worldwide have become aware of the highly successful BGAN and FleetBroadband services. For IT managers who have been waiting for the right time to experience the advantages of mobile broadband, these new pricing programs offer an excellent, affordable opportunity," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm.

He concluded, "We are confident that once our new customers begin deployment of BGAN and FleetBroadband - and witness the improved performance of their business-critical applications - they will quickly realize the benefit."

For more information on these new pricing plans, please contact Stratos 24/7 customer service via email at info@stratosglobal.com, via phone worldwide at +1-709-748-4226 or toll-free in North America at 1-800-563-2255.

Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
Stratos is also the world's largest distributor of Inmarsat's FleetBroadband, which provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to 432kpbs. Stratos has activated more than 1,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types.

FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today. FleetBroadband from Stratos also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos is now available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek. More information on FleetBroadband from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos and FleetBroadband from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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.

New Version of Stratos Dashboard Provides Improved User Interface for Easier Control of Mobile Broadband Costs

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Stratos Dashboard is the foundation of The Stratos Advantage applications that help users provision service, monitor airtime and control costs--

Bethesda, Maryland (July 23, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today introduced a new version of its Stratos Dashboard application that features an improved graphical interface to increase ease-of use.

Stratos Dashboard is the foundation of The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services utilized by thousands of Stratos customers to keep Inmarsat mobile broadband service costs within budget by monitoring airtime and restricting unauthorized usage.

The Stratos Advantage services help elevate BGAN from Stratos, FleetBroadband from Stratos and SwiftBroadband from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These convenient applications 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. The applications are also used to manage older-generation Inmarsat mobile satellite systems, Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services and Iridium mobile satellite offerings.

Stratos Dashboard enables users to do their own service provisioning, control traffic using High-Volume Usage Metering and Credit Control features. The application provides full access to real-time traffic overviews, billing information and firewall settings.

"The new Stratos Dashboard is more intuitive and easier to navigate, enabling users to access more information quickly," said Ian Canning, Stratos Vice President, Marketing & Product Management. "This new layout improves functionality, thereby making it easier for both new and experienced users to provision service and control costs."

Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About SwiftBroadband from Stratos
Stratos is one of the world's largest distributors of Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband, which provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to 432kpbs. It also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the aircraft's location. The service is compatible with most government-grade encryption and secure-communications standards. SwiftBroadband from Stratos provides high-performance, secure and reliable access to command-and-control information resources on the ground, facilitating situational awareness. The service enables commercial and private jet passengers to stay in touch with high-speed Internet, email and voice connectivity. In addition, pilots can use SwiftBroadband from Stratos to maintain direct contact with air-traffic control, receive real-time weather information, access the most fuel-efficient oceanic flight paths and transmit aircraft position and maintenance status to ground staff.

About Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services from Stratos
Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services from Stratos offer a competitive alternative to the handheld, fixed and maritime solutions now available in the marketplace. The services offer high-quality voice and data (2.4 kbps) connectivity via small, affordable equipment.

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. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com .

Renowned Crab Fishing Captain Sig Hansen Featured in Popular TV Series Selects FleetBroadband

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Captain and crew benefit from improved connectivity during long voyages--

Bethesda, Maryland (November 19, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has successfully deployed the Inmarsat FleetBroadband 500 broadband satellite service for Sig Hansen, the renowned Seattle-based captain of the crab fishing vessel Northwestern. In recent years, Capt. Hansen has been prominently featured in a popular documentary television series for which he also serves as technical production advisor. The Emmy-nominated series captures the dangers, adventures and disasters of a fleet of crab-fishing boats on the icy Bering Sea.

FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to 432kpbs. Capt. Hansen has successfully integrated FleetBroadband from Stratos with AmosConnect Crew from Stratos to manage all email, fax, and SMS communications. The new system enables Capt. Hansen and his crew to effectively manage office applications, upload pictures to their families, and upload video to the vessel's website www.fvnorthwestern.com.

Stratos has provided Capt. Hansen with a wide range of mobile satellite communications solutions for more than 10 years. A lifelong Pacific crab fisherman, he has captained the Northwestern for nearly 20 years. During that time, the award-winning vessel has never had a death at sea and its serious-injury rate has been significantly lower than other boats in the Bering Sea fleet.

"FleetBroadband provides us with real-time communications onboard. With broadband Internet, email and voice communications, we can now run our boat like a business, and also stay in better contact with our families during long voyages," said Capt. Hansen.

Stratos has activated more than 1,500 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types for organizations including the Royal Netherlands Navy, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, MPC Steamship and Albacora Group. Capt. Hansen chose Stratos as his FleetBroadband provider based primarily on the wide range of value-added services that Stratos offers. Those field-tested services, known as The Stratos Advantage, help ship managers attain the highest possible performance and support from FleetBroadband, at the lowest possible cost.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "The work of Capt. Hansen and his crew aboard the Northwestern typifies the difficult professional life of Pacific crab fishermen. By providing the ability to increase productivity and stay in touch with friends, family and fans, our FleetBroadband solution helps make life a bit easier for these admirable mariners."

While numerous merchant and commercial fishing vessels have deployed FleetBroadband 250 and FleetBroadband 500 systems from Stratos, many smaller fishing vessels are examining Inmarsat's new entry-level service FleetBroadband 150 (FB150). Combining a high-quality telephone connection with simultaneous IP data at up to 150kbps and SMS texting, FB150 from Stratos is ideal for small to medium-sized vessels requiring single-user Internet access and email. The compact and easy-to-install FB150 offers affordable and reliable communications worldwide.

FleetBroadband from Stratos provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today. This system enables ship managers to deploy innovative crew-communications solutions to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos is now available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

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. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com.

Stolt Tankers Selects Stratos for Fleetwide Satellite Communications Network

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Network provides mobile voice & high-speed data services for global fleet of 75 ships--

Bethesda, Maryland (August 6, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by Stolt Tankers B.V. (Stolt) to provide a fleetwide, high-speed satellite-based communications network. Stolt Tankers is a subsidiary of Stolt-Nielsen S.A., one of the world's leading providers of integrated maritime transportation services.

The Stratos network will serve Stolt's 75-ship fleet of tanker ships with services that include: Inmarsat B, C and Fleet; and Iridium crew calling. The network is custom-designed for Stolt to help increase the performance and efficiency of a wide variety of business-critical applications, including crew communications to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers.

Stolt chose Stratos as its network provider based primarily on the wide range of value-added services that Stratos offers. Those field-tested services, known as The Stratos Advantage, help ship managers attain the highest possible performance and support from their mobile satellite services, at the lowest possible cost. The application that Stolt found most appealing was StratosAccess, which provides online traffic monitoring and alarms to indicate usage thresholds.

"Stratos is committed to meet all of our requirements with a comprehensive solution that includes competitive pricing, experienced local support, standard 24/7 customer care with accelerated service-levels agreements provided by them for large fleets such as ours, and the ability to monitor our terminals online," said Rob C. Scharff, Stolt General Manager, Purchasing & Logistics. "Equally as important, the Stratos solution should provide immediate cost savings and a natural path toward future deployment of broadband solutions."

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "It is truly gratifying to provide Stolt with a standardized technological solution that helps meet its daily management challenges by integrating all maritime operations on land and at sea. Given Stolt's reputation for enduring leadership and management excellence, being selected as its network provider is a source of pride for Stratos."

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime satellite services includes Inmarsat FleetBroadband, Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

About The Stratos Advantage
The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range. More than 11,000 mobile users in 180 countries already utilize The Stratos Advantage for BGAN, FleetBroadband and other mobile satellite services.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on Stratos solutions by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About Stolt-Nielsen S.A.
Stolt-Nielsen S.A. is one of the world's leading providers of transportation services for bulk liquid chemicals, edible oils, acids and other specialty liquids. The Company, through the parcel tanker, tank container, terminal, rail and barge services of its wholly owned subsidiary Stolt Tankers & Terminals and Stolt Tank Containers, provides integrated transportation solutions for its customers. The Company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the symbol SNI. For more information, please visit www.stolt-nielsen.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. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com.

Stratos and Blue Ocean Wireless Join Forces to Offer GSM Service Via FleetBroadband Terminals

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--New partnership enables convenient bundling of BOW GSM Service from Stratos with FleetBroadband--

--Wallem Shipmanagement upgrades to BOW GSM Service from Stratos--

Bethesda, Maryland (September 22, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has reached a cooperative distribution agreement with Blue Ocean Wireless (BOW) that will enable ship managers to conveniently deploy GSM service via FleetBroadband terminals.

Under the terms of the agreement, Stratos will resell BOW's GSM service to existing Stratos customers, under the brand name BOW GSM Service from Stratos, in combination with other Stratos satellite-based services. Existing BOW customers using BOW's GSM service on Inmarsat F33 can now upgrade to BOW GSM Service from Stratos at attractive rates.

The agreement also enables BOW to resell FleetBroadband from Stratos with its GSM solution as part of a bundled service offering to non-Stratos customers. BOW will continue to support its existing GSM customers that use legacy Inmarsat services.

BOW GSM Service from Stratos is a dedicated GSM service for crewmembers and officers of merchant ships. It is the first service - using Inmarsat satellites - enabling seafarers to utilize their existing mobile phones onboard merchant ships in deep ocean waters, exactly as they would in port or on land.

Stratos today also announced that Wallem Shipmanagement will offer its customers the opportunity to upgrade from Fleet to FleetBroadband with BOW GSM Service from Stratos, adding extra bandwidth and flexibility to meet both crew and commercial requirements. Sixty-five Wallem-managed vessels are now equipped with BOW's GSM service. Wallem has deployed a wide range of Stratos services, on several hundred of the vessels that it manages, since 1994.

BOW GSM Service from Stratos is ideally suited as a crew-calling solution, enabling users to receive and place calls and send SMS messages via their own GSM number. The service also provides reliable voice connectivity, enabling ship managers to quickly contact merchant maritime officers. In the future, Stratos expects to expand the capabilities of BOW GSM Service from Stratos to include email and web browsing from the mobile phone.

BOW GSM Service from Stratos uses an onboard pico cell, gateway and a FleetBroadband terminal, which also can be used for commercial traffic. Crewmembers and officers pay a per-minute charge for the service, as part of a pre-paid solution. Billing for all crew GSM calls is kept separate from the vessel's commercial airtime.

"Partnering with Stratos to develop and market BOW GSM Service from Stratos helps ensure that the maritime industry can quickly benefit from this impressive new communications solution. Together, we will help make life easier and more productive for thousands of seafarers worldwide," said BOW CEO Paul Wallace. "We expect this new agreement will help both companies continue to provide services that assist in the recruitment and retention of qualified seafarers."

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "As demonstrated by Wallem's adoption of our new solution, this new agreement with BOW adds convenience and flexibility to our existing GSM offering." He added, "We are always working closely with our technology and channel partners to help ship managers deploy the most innovative communications solutions. This agreement is further proof of our commitment to enhance our value-added services."

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

About Stratos Maritime Industry Leadership
Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. Stratos has activated more than 2,000 FleetBroadband terminals across all major geographic regions and vessel types, for organizations including the Royal Netherlands Navy, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, MPC Steamship and Albacora Group. FleetBroadband provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location. In addition to BOW GSM Service from Stratos, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes FleetBroadband, Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

Stratos customers fully utilize the suite of value-added services known as The Stratos Advantage. These services, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range.

About Blue Ocean Wireless
Founded in 2007, Blue Ocean Wireless (BOW) is focused on expanding communication capability in the merchant maritime sector. BOW provides GSM connectivity for seafarers in deep ocean water, where no other network exists. This allows users to make and receive voice calls, send and receive SMS text messages and, in time, browse the Internet using their existing handsets. This technology can also be used, in conjunction with RFID technology, to track and monitor shipping containers while they are in transit at sea. BOW works in partnership with communications industry leaders including, Stratos, Altobridge, JRC, Seacom and Smart Communications to provide highly effective, efficient products to its customers. For more information, please visit www.blueoceanwireless.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. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com.

Stratos and Modern Security Solutions to Jointly Market AFIANT Satellite Network Video Management System

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Agreement establishes Modern Security Solutions as Stratos ECO-Partner for remote security services--

Bethesda, Maryland (June 29, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has signed an agreement with Modern Security Solutions Ltd. to market the AFIANT Satellite Network Video Management System.

Modern Security, a Stratos partner based in the United Kingdom, developed the AFIANT Satellite system to the specifications of global security professionals. The AFIANT Satellite system is differentiated from traditional digital video recorders and video management systems, as it provides a security platform from which to manage surveillance networks.

The AFIANT Satellite system offers a cost-effective solution for video surveillance and monitoring of remote assets. It is equally suited for asset security in the oil, gas and mining industries, as well as for border security and monitoring. The AFIANT Satellite system delivers remote access via an encrypted web interface or PDA application. The software allows users to set motion alerts and send the alerts via BGAN from the field. Remote users can also login to the AFIANT Satellite system and view live video delivered via the BGAN background IP channel.

The system is comprised of a network video management server which can be connected to either an analog CCTV camera or one of 200 supported network devices. The AFIANT Satellite system is then connected to a BGAN or other satellite terminal providing a complete network management solution for audio and video applications.

Stratos is one of the world's largest distributors of Inmarsat's BGAN service, which uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide simultaneous video (up to 384 kbps streaming), 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.

Stratos has considerable experience providing security solutions. Stratos' BGAN engineering experts and Engineering Integration Service (EIS) team have the skills to design and deploy customized remote asset monitoring and perimeter detection solutions for all situations.

Stratos and Modern Security will demonstrate BGAN from Stratos and AFIANT Satellite solutions at IFSEC South Africa Securex (Booth F8) June 30-July 3 at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Today's announcement establishes Modern Security as a Stratos ECO-Partner for land mobile satellite services. Stratos' ECO-Partner program combines the best satellite services, airtime solutions and value-added partners to offer customers a total single-source solution.

"This agreement is the latest example of the Stratos commitment to provide security professionals with remote video-transmission solutions customized to their requirements," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "Through our innovative ECO-Partner program, we will continue to collaborate with leading hardware and software developers to offer optimized solutions for our customers worldwide."

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About Modern Security Solutions
Modern Security Solutions Ltd., based in the United Kingdom, is a leading provider of Network Video Management Systems. Its products benefit a diverse range of vertical market customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.modernsecuritysolutions.com.

Stratos and SeaMobile Join Forces to Market SeaMobile's ClipWay Real-Time Video Transmission Application

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Agreement establishes SeaMobile as Stratos ECO-Partner for land mobile services--

Bethesda, Maryland (April 20, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has signed an agreement with SeaMobile Europe to jointly market SeaMobile's ClipWay real-time video transmission application.

SeaMobile Europe, a Stratos Channel Partner based in Paris, France, developed ClipWay as an easy-to-use software solution for transferring audio/video files to and from anywhere in the world. Ideal for media organizations and other mobile workers, ClipWay combines a server-side software application that is kept at the office and client-side software that can be loaded onto a laptop. With just a computer, video source and a communications link, video files can be sent from any location to anywhere else in the world.

ClipWay implements a secure transmission protocol to optimize bandwidth, especially over Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) mobile satellite service. The protocol features four different compression qualities, ideal for a variety of usages and requirements. ClipWay offers a suite of services designed to meet the needs of a wide range of customers, including media professionals, mobile workers and maritime users.

Stratos will demonstrate its BGAN offering and SeaMobile's ClipWay application at NAB booth OE411.

Today's announcement establishes SeaMobile Europe as a Stratos ECO-Partner for land mobile satellite services. Stratos' ECO-Partner program combines the best satellite services, airtime solutions and value-added partners to offer customers a total single-source solution.

"This agreement with SeaMobile Europe enables us to provide media organizations and remote professionals with a complete video-transmission solution that is customized to their requirements," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "This is an excellent example of how our ECO-Partner program develops partnerships with leading application developers to provide solutions that are optimized for performance via the Stratos network."

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.com.

About SeaMobile Europe
For nearly 20 years, SeaMobile Europe has been a pioneer in providing global satellite communication services. SeaMobile Europe, formerly Geolink, is part of SeaMobile Enterprises Group, based in Seattle and Miami. For more information visit www.seamobile.com

Stratos Announces 2008 Year-End Results

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BETHESDA, MD (February 24, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the world's trusted leader in delivering vital voice, data and IP communication services today announced financial results for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Financial Highlights
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)

Year ended December 31
	2008	2007
Revenue	$ 639.0	$ 594.3
EBITDA*	$ 116.5	$ 104.5
Net earnings	$ 20.9	$ 2.0
Basic and diluted earnings per share	$ 0.50	$ 0.05

* EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) is defined by the Corporation as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, other (income) costs, management long-term incentive expense, depreciation and amortization, non-controlling interest and equity in earnings of investee.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Corporation achieved revenue of US$639.0 million, an 8 percent increase compared with US$594.3 million in 2007. The increased revenue resulted primarily from increased Inmarsat leasing and aeronautical revenue, increased sales of mobile terminals and equipment and increased Iridium handheld revenues in the Mobile Satellite Services ("MSS") segment, partially offset by a decrease in revenues in the Broadband segment. EBITDA for year ended December 31, 2008 increased by 11 percent to US$116.5 million compared with US$104.5 million for 2007. The significant improvement in EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2008 was driven by the increased MSS revenue and cost reductions resulting from the network integration and other initiatives to reduce costs and improve operating efficiencies.

Net earnings for the year ended December 31 2008 were US$20.9 million, or US$0.50 per share, compared with net earnings of US$2.0 million, or US$0.05 per share in 2007. The results for 2007 were negatively impacted by US$16.7 million, or US$0.40 per share, of after-tax financial advisory, legal, and other costs related to the transaction with CIP Canada, which were partially offset by an after-tax gain of US$3.8 million, or US$0.09 per share, related to an hurricane insurance settlement.

Cash flow from operations (including working capital changes) in 2008 totaled US$78.0 million compared with US$57.3 million generated in 2007. The improvement primarily reflects the higher net earnings.

Stratos Announces First-Quarter 2009 Results

Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BETHESDA, MD (May 7, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the world's trusted leader in delivering vital voice, data and IP communication services today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.

Financial Highlights (in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)
	First quarter ended March 31
	2009	2008
Revenue	$ 156.6	$ 147.5
EBITDA*	$ 27.8	$ 23.9
Net earnings	$ 4.5	$ 0.7
Basic and diluted earnings per share	$ 0.11	$ 0.02
* EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) is defined by the Corporation as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, other costs (income), management long-term incentive expense, depreciation and amortization, non-controlling interest and equity in earnings of investee.

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operation are available on SEDAR, www.sedar.com and the Corporation's website, www.stratosglobal.com

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Corporation achieved revenue of US$156.6 million, a 6 percent increase compared with US$147.5 million in the same period in 2008. This increase resulted primarily from increased Inmarsat leasing revenue and sales of mobile terminals and equipment. EBITDA for the first quarter of 2009 increased by 16 percent to US$27.8 million compared with US$23.9 million for the first quarter of 2008. The significant improvement in EBITDA was primarily driven by the increased revenue and cost of sales reductions resulting from increased volume discounts.

Net earnings for the first quarter of 2009 were US$4.5 million, or US$0.11 per share, compared with US$0.7 million, or US$0.02 per share during the same period in 2008.

Cash flow from operations (including working capital changes) in the first quarter of 2009 totaled US$21.5 million, compared with US$5.0 million generated during the first quarter in 2008. The increase primarily reflects a decreased investment in working capital and higher EBITDA.

Stratos Announces Second Quarter 2009 Results

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BETHESDA, MD (August 5, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the world's trusted leader in delivering vital voice, data and IP communication services today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.

Financial Highlights (in millions of U.S. dollars)
	Second quarter ended June 30		Six months ended June 30
	2009	2008	2009	2008
Revenue	$ 160.8	$ 162.7	$ 317.4	$ 310.2
EBITDA*	$ 30.4	$ 28.6	$ 58.5	$ 53.1
Net earnings	$ 5.8	$ 5.5	$ 10.3	$ 6.2
* EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) is defined by the Corporation as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, other (income) costs, management long-term incentive expense, depreciation and amortization, non-controlling interest and equity in earnings of investee.

For the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009, the Corporation achieved revenue of US$160.8 million and US$317.4 million, respectively, a 1 percent decrease and a 2 percent increase compared with US$162.7 million and US$310.2 million, respectively, in the same periods in 2008. EBITDA for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009 increased by 6 percent and 10 percent, respectively, to US$30.4 million and US$58.5 million compared with US$28.6 million and US$53.1 million for the same periods in 2008. The decrease in revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2009 when compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008 was due to a decrease in revenue in the Broadband segment. The improvement in EBITDA for both periods was driven primarily by a decrease in operating expenses.

Net earnings for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009 were US$5.8 million and US$10.3 million, respectively, compared with net earnings of US$5.5 million and US$6.2 million, respectively, during the same periods in 2008. The improvement in net earnings resulted from the increased EBITDA and lower interest expense.

Cash flow from operations (including working capital changes) in the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009 totaled US$10.9 million and US$32.4 million, respectively, compared with US$17.4 million and US$22.4 million, respectively, generated during the same periods in 2008. The decrease for the three months ended June 30, 2009 when compared to the three months ended June 30, 2008 resulted primarily from an increased investment in working capital related to increased accounts receivable and prepaids. The increase for the six months ended June 30, 2009 resulted from higher net earnings and a lower investment in working capital than experienced for the six months ended June 30, 2008.

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 communication 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 indirect subsidiary of Inmarsat plc. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Documents related to this release contain statements and information about potential future circumstances and developments. Such statements and information are qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally and may differ materially from Stratos Global Corporation's actual future results. For additional information with respect to these risks and uncertainties, reference should be made to the Corporation's continuous disclosure materials filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators. Stratos Global Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Stratos Announces Third Quarter 2009 Results

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BETHESDA, MD (November 8, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the world's trusted leader in delivering vital voice, data and IP communication services today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Financial Highlights (in millions of U.S. dollars)
	Third quarter ended Sept 30		Nine months ended Sept 30
	2009	2008	2009	2008
Revenue	$ 160.1	$ 168.2	$ 477.5	$ 478.4
EBITDA*	$ 27.0	$ 28.9	$ 76.2	$ 75.9
Net earnings	$ 8.0	$ 8.4	$ 18.3	$ 14.6
*EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) is defined by the Corporation as earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, other (income) costs, depreciation and amortization, non-controlling interest and equity in earnings of investees.

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are available on SEDAR, www.sedar.com and the Corporation's website, www.stratosglobal.com.

For the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Corporation achieved revenue of US$160.1 million and US$477.5 million, respectively, a 4.8 percent and a 0.2 percent decrease, respectively, compared with US$168.2 million and US$478.4 million in the same periods in 2008. EBITDA for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009 decreased by 6.6 percent and increased by 0.4 percent, respectively, to US$27.0 million and US$76.2 million compared with US$28.9 million and US$75.9 million for the same periods in 2008. The decrease in revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2009 when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008 was due to decreases in revenue in both the Mobile Satellite Services and Broadband segments. The decrease in EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was driven primarily by the decrease in revenue, partially offset by a decrease in operating expenses.

Net earnings for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009 were US$8.0 million and US$18.3 million, respectively, compared with net earnings of US$8.4 million and US$14.6 million, respectively, during the same periods in 2008. The decrease in net earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2009 resulted from the decreased EBITDA and higher income taxes, partially offset by lower interest expense.

Cash flow from operations (including working capital changes) in the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009 totaled US$(13.8) million and US$16.7 million, respectively, compared with US$12.4 million and US$34.8 million, respectively, generated during the same periods in 2008. The decrease for both periods when compared to the same periods in 2008 resulted primarily from an increased investment in working capital related to decreased payables and accruals. The primary decrease results from the change in payment terms to Inmarsat under the new distribution agreements.

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 communication 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 indirect subsidiary of Inmarsat plc. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com

Stratos Executes New Distribution Contracts With Inmarsat

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Agreements cover Inmarsat existing and evolved services, lease services and Inmarsat broadband-derived services--

Bethesda, Maryland (March 30, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has executed new distribution contracts with Inmarsat, thus further expanding its commitment to providing vital communications services to its customers. The agreements take effect on April 15, when the existing agreements expire, ensuring continuity of service for all of Stratos' Inmarsat customers.

The agreements cover the Space Service Access Agreement (SSAA) for the provision of traditional Inmarsat existing and evolved services (GAN, Fleet, etc.), the Network Service Distribution Agreement (NSDA) for the provision of Inmarsat I4 satellite services BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband, and the Lease Service Provider Agreement (LSPA) for the provision of lease services (both existing and evolved and I4 broadband).

"These agreements represent another important step in our relationship with Inmarsat," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "They further extend the relationship that was formed following the acquisition of Stratos by CIP Canada Investment Inc. and the call option we expect Inmarsat to be exercising for Stratos shares on or around April 15, 2009."

Parm concluded, "The execution of these new agreements provides continuity and stability for all of Stratos' Inmarsat users. This demonstrates our strong commitment to our customers and our partners."

Stratos is fully committed to providing vital communications solutions for a broad array of users with a combination of services that, in addition to Inmarsat offerings, include Iridium, VSAT, MSAT and Globalstar.

Stratos Expands Asia-Pacific Customer Support with New Hong Kong Service Center

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--New center supports maritime and land-mobile markets throughout region--

Bethesda, Maryland (February 23, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has expanded its Asia-Pacific customer-support infrastructure with the opening of its new Hong Kong Customer Support Center. The center offers dedicated, local-language support to customers throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Stratos' new Hong Kong Customer Support Center is staffed with trained professionals who speak both English and Chinese. They are intimately familiar with how maritime and land-mobile customers in the region are using Stratos mobile satellite systems, value-added services and software solutions such as AmosConnect.

Early last year, Stratos established its regional warehouse in Hong Kong. In the Asia-Pacific region, Stratos supports customers via its network of offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, Auckland and throughout Australia. Stratos' new JSAT MOBILE joint venture in Tokyo supports the Japanese market.

"Our new Hong Kong center offers optimal cultural understanding, enhanced service during Asia-Pacific business hours, and additional resources to enable our customers in the region to take full advantage of our wide range of value-added offerings," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "This is the latest example of our continued commitment to providing support to our global customer base. We believe we are well positioned to serve this vital region for many years to come."

Stratos Expands its MobileLink Fixed-to-Mobile Calling Services

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Services reduce fixed-to-mobile calling costs by avoiding high tariffs charged by local telephone companies--

Bethesda, Maryland, (November 16, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today expanded its line of Stratos MobileLink fixed-to-mobile calling services. Each of the three Stratos MobileLink services help customers avoid high tariffs charged by local telephone companies. The services enable fast, affordable connectivity from fixed locations to Inmarsat and Iridium mobile satellite terminals.

Stratos MobileLink services support all satellite phone solutions offered by Stratos operating in any marine, aeronautical, or remote land-based environment. Stratos MobileLink services provide an effective voice solution in countries where the local telephone operator cannot access the Inmarsat or Iridium satellite network, or in areas where direct dialing is prohibitively expensive.

For the maritime market, Stratos MobileLink services can help shipping companies reducing shore-to-ship calling costs by as much as 50 percent.

The newest of the three services, Stratos MobileLink Easy, is ideally suited for companies that may dial a single satellite phone or group of phones on a regular basis. It enables the company to dial a predefined landline number to connect directly with the satellite terminal.

Stratos MobileLink Secure (formerly known as Stratos MobileLink) offers an additional layer of protection against unauthorized usage. It enables the company to dial a landline number followed by an access code for each satellite terminal.

Stratos MobileLink Flex (formerly known as Stratos 2-Stage Access) enables the company to call any of its satellite terminals simply by dialing the individual satellite telephone number, following an access code.

"At a time when cost containment is of paramount importance, the ability to reduce fixed-to-mobile calling expenses is critical," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "Stratos MobileLink services eliminate the high, direct-dial rates charged by local telephone operators, while maintaining the highest possible call quality. This service reflects Stratos' ongoing commitment to help companies maintain effective communications at the lowest possible cost."

Stratos Introduces Online Management for Iridium Prepaid Phone Services

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Stratos Dashboard for Iridium now available for both postpaid and prepaid options--

Bethesda, Maryland (September 21, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced that its Iridium phone service customers now can conveniently manage their prepaid services via the online Stratos Dashboard application.

With Stratos Dashboard for Iridium, customers can activate, deactivate and reactive their Iridium postpaid, Short Burst Data services - and now also prepaid - online. Customers can order and reload prepaid vouchers, as well as view traffic data for all their prepaid SIM cards. This provides Stratos Iridium customers with full control of their Iridium services and eliminates the time-consuming process of completing and submitting forms.

In 2007, Stratos became the first company to offer its customers the option to instantly provision their Iridium postpaid phone service online via a direct interface with Iridium provisioning systems. Showing a commitment to continual development, Iridium OpenPort is expected to become available in Stratos Dashboard for Iridium later this year.

Access and usage of Stratos Dashboard for Iridium is free to Stratos partners and end users. Stratos' Iridium customers can become familiar with Stratos Dashboard via an e-learning module which now also includes prepaid. The module offers users a self-paced overview of the capabilities and set up of Stratos Dashboard for Iridium.

The Stratos Dashboards are the foundation of The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services utilized by thousands of Stratos customers. The Stratos Advantage services are used to manage Iridium mobile satellite offerings. The Stratos Advantage services also elevate BGAN from Stratos, FleetBroadband from Stratos and SwiftBroadband from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These convenient applications 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.

"The Stratos Dashboards have proven to be an invaluable tool for our customers across all platforms. With its intuitive graphical interface, both new and experienced users can easily provision service and control costs," said Ian Canning, Stratos vice president, marketing & product management. He added, "By working closely with Iridium Satellite to develop Stratos Dashboard for Iridium Prepaid, we ensure that our customers receive the greatest possible benefit from their global phone service."

Stratos channel partners and end users can learn more about Stratos Dashboard for Iridium Prepaid by visiting www.stratosglobal.com or contacting their Account Manager.

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. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com.

Stratos Introduces StratosNet Accelerator to Help Customers Reduce Airtime Costs

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Free application optimizes Internet use with BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband mobile satellite services--

Bethesda, Maryland (February 17, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced the commercial availability of StratosNet Accelerator, a free Internet-optimization application that helps customers reduce airtime costs required to operate BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband mobile satellite services.

StratosNet Accelerator is the latest addition to The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that make BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband more productive and affordable.

Once downloaded, StratosNet Accelerator operates transparently on the customer's personal computer. By utilizing the latest data-compression techniques, it reduces by more than 80 percent the amount of email, web and FTP data transmitted between terrestrial and mobile terminals. This functionality significantly increases transmission speeds and reduces airtime costs.

Stratos is one of the world's largest distributors of Inmarsat's BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband mobile satellite offerings, which use portable, lightweight terminals to provide simultaneous, high-speed data and voice connectivity anywhere in the world.

StratosNet Accelerator is the ideal companion to ChatCard Data, which enables BGAN and FleetBroadband end users to expand the use of their prepaid ChatCard calling card to include Internet access. StratosNet Accelerator helps end-users get the maximum value for their ChatCard allowance.

For the aviation market, SwiftBroadband from Stratos provides high-performance (up to 432 kbps), secure and reliable access to command-and-control information resources on the ground, facilitating situational awareness. The service enables commercial and private jet passengers to stay in touch with high-speed Internet, email and voice connectivity.

"The introduction of StratosNet Accelerator demonstrates our commitment to minimize the operating cost and maximize the effectiveness of our wide range of mobile satellite services," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "By offering the prepaid-Internet feature of ChatCard Data with the Internet-optimization capability of StratosNet Accelerator, we meet end-user demand for an affordable, highly efficient mobile broadband solution."

Parm concluded, "Continually expanding our suite of value-added services helps maintain our strong reputation for customer service and technological innovation."

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos, FleetBroadband from Stratos and SwiftBroadband from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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.

Stratos is Appointed Distribution Partner for New Inmarsat Global Satellite Phone Services

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--New-generation Inmarsat offering will come fully integrated with Stratos value-added services to ensure cost efficiency and optimal performance--

Bethesda, Maryland (November 3, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been appointed as an Inmarsat Distribution Partner for Inmarsat's new Global Satellite Phone Services (GSPS).

The new-generation Inmarsat GSPS will be available in 2010 in mobile, fixed-land and fixed-maritime packages. Planned for launch at the end of the second quarter of 2010, the IsatPhone Pro global handheld will be the first Inmarsat GSPS terminal to become commercially available.

Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos will offer a powerful alternative to the handheld, fixed and maritime phone solutions currently available in the marketplace. The new services will offer high-quality voice and 2.4 kbps circuit-switched fax and data connectivity via small, affordable equipment. Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos will be available via attractive postpaid and prepaid offerings to suit the needs of a wide range of users.

In 2010, Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos will be available in all global regions, where Stratos is already a leading communications provider to both land-mobile and maritime customers. Service in all global regions is made possible by Inmarsat's latest-generation I-4 satellite.

Stratos is one of the world's largest providers of mobile phone services from both Inmarsat and Iridium, with years of experience serving the maritime, enterprise, aeronautical, energy, government and military markets.

Customers using Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos will benefit from The Stratos Advantage, a wide range of value-added services that ensure optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. The foundation of The Stratos Advantage is Stratos Dashboard, which will enable customers to manage their usage of Inmarsat GSPS by providing real-time information on voice and data traffic used, with associated costs.

Stratos Dashboard will further enhance the user experience of these new phone services by providing fast provisioning, as well as rebilling and reporting options to minimize unexpected invoices and potential financial risk. Stratos Dashboard will support both postpaid and prepaid rate-plan options.

Stratos Dashboard is used by all Stratos partners and many customers who deploy BGAN from Stratos, FleetBroadband from Stratos, SwiftBroadband from Stratos, the current generation of Inmarsat Satellite Phone Services (SPS) from Stratos and Iridium mobile satellite offerings worldwide. Stratos Dashboard is also expected to be widely used worldwide by customers who will be deploying Inmarsat GSPS from Stratos.

"The availability of Inmarsat GSPS will enable us to meet and exceed the demanding mobile voice requirements of thousands of existing and new customers," said Stratos President & CEO Jim Parm. He added, "These users will find the new phone equipment is reliable, affordable and easy to use - with even greater performance than existing services. Users will also derive many important benefits from The Stratos Advantage to ensure cost control, financial savings and optimal security."

Inmarsat Chief Operating Officer Perry Melton said, "Stratos is a highly valued Distribution Partner with experience delivering a full range of Inmarsat services. We are delighted they are adding the IsatPhone Pro and GSPS to their portfolio, and we look forward to their world-class support in the roll-out of these exciting new global services."

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. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com.

Stratos is First Inmarsat Distribution Partner to Reach 1,000 FleetBroadband Activations

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--FleetBroadband from Stratos now available worldwide--

Bethesda, Maryland (February 26, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has reached a milestone of 1,000 FleetBroadband activations. Stratos is the first Inmarsat Distribution Partner to reach this notable FleetBroadband sales milestone.

Stratos' milestone of 1,000 FleetBroadband activations encompasses all major geographic regions and vessel types, from customers including Wallem Shipmanagement, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Varun Shipping, MISC Berhad, the Royal Netherlands Navy and KVH Industries. A significant number of Stratos' first 1,000 FleetBroadband activations were sold via Stratos channel partners.

The announcement of this Stratos sales plateau comes in the same week that Inmarsat announced full global coverage for FleetBroadband, adding Pacific Ocean coverage to its existing coverage of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

"Reaching this impressive milestone is the result of the dedicated efforts of our maritime sales and customer-service professionals, combined with the close cooperation of our valued channel partners," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "Today's announcements establish Stratos as the world's leading FleetBroadband distributor, with the capability to bring the service to our worldwide customer base."

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek and Iridium OpenPort.

Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

Stratos Named World's Top Independent Teleport Operator

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Annual WTA ranking also recognizes Stratos as fifth-largest teleport operator worldwide--

Bethesda, Maryland (November 17, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been ranked by the World Teleport Association (WTA) as the world's largest independent teleport operator for 2009. This is the third consecutive year that Stratos has achieved the top honor.

Stratos was ranked first on WTA's 2009 Independent Top Twenty list, which groups companies based on revenue from all sources, but excludes companies whose core business is ownership and operation of a satellite fleet or terrestrial network.

Stratos also was ranked fifth on WTA's 2009 Global Top Twenty list, which groups companies based on revenues from all customized communications sources and includes operators of teleports, satellite fleets and fiber networks.

Both lists were announced by WTA on Nov. 9. The WTA compiles its rankings by surveying teleport operators around the world on their facilities, services and business results.

"Maintaining our position as the world's top independent teleport operator is indicative of the overall success we earned in 2009," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "This year, we enhanced our overall market position by establishing strong new relationships with some of the world's leading maritime, energy, mining, government and military organizations."

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, WTA (www.worldteleport.org) has been the only trade association that focuses on the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations. Companies that do business with teleports also find that WTA is the best investment they can make to open new channels to the industry.

Stratos Provides Government of Canada (GoC) with First-Ever BGAN Lease Service

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--New service is part of existing Stratos contract with the Information Technology Services Branch (ITSB) of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)--

--Stratos is the first Inmarsat Distribution Partner to provide BGAN Lease Service, which will support the GoC with mobile, broadband data and voice connectivity for mission-critical military applications--

Bethesda, Maryland (October 28, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it will provide the Government of Canada (GoC) with a dedicated channel (also known as a lease) on Inmarsat's BGAN mobile broadband satellite service. The agreement represents the industry's first ever provision of BGAN Lease Service.

This BGAN Lease Service, valued at more than $2 million CAD, is being provided by Stratos as part of the ITSB-Stratos contract established in October 2008 through a competitive RFP process. This contract facilitates the provision of a variety of Inmarsat mobile satellite products and services to all departments of the Canadian Federal Government under ITSB-managed mobile satellite services. Last year, Stratos also became the first company granted a license by Industry Canada to offer BGAN to Canadian businesses and government agencies.

Under the terms of the ITSB-Stratos contract for managed Inmarsat services, an ITSB client agency will utilize a dedicated channel on one of Inmarsat's new I-4 satellites for mobile broadband voice and data.

Stratos, an Inmarsat Distribution Partner, is one of the world's largest distributors of Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service, a mobile satellite offering that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide video (guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), 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, or non-existent. Stratos now boasts more than 10,000 BGAN activations in 185 countries.

BGAN has become an integral part of mobile satellite service deployments and specifically, this dedicated channel will provide the security and flexibility to support their mission-critical communications requirements.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "Our BGAN Lease Service will enable ITSB clients to benefit from the high levels of performance and productivity that BGAN is successfully providing to thousands of other companies and government agencies worldwide. We look forward to working closely with ITSB clients to demonstrate the many convenient aspects of BGAN leasing. This represents the latest example of how Stratos is making mobile broadband satellite solutions easy to use and efficient to own."

Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by media organizations, military agencies, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. More information on BGAN from Stratos is available at www.thepowerofbgan.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. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com.

Stratos Provides MISC Berhad with Customized Crew Communications Solution

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Popular AmosConnect Crew service supports MISC's crew-retention program--

Bethesda, Maryland (June 1, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by its long-time customer MISC Berhad to provide a customized crew-communications solution for its entire fleet of more than 100 merchant vessels.

Stratos is deploying an MISC-branded version of its AmosConnect Crew communications solution to serve thousands of crewmembers, as part of MISC's "We Care" crew-retention program. The custom solution provides MISC crewmembers with new "MISC Crew Comm" cards to enjoy free private email, low-cost SMS and voice calling.

AmosConnect Crew is an all-in-one communication solution for crewmembers. Combining AmosConnect and ChatCard, two of Stratos' successful services, AmosConnect Crew enables personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via phone, email and SMS at low cost rates. It provides an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember.

"This project is the latest chapter in our successful 10-year relationship with Stratos," said Nor Effendi B. Nordin, MISC manager, brand implementation. "They quickly delivered a private-label, integrated crew-communications solution that is ideally suited to support our crew-retention program."

He added, "Our crewmembers are very happy with this flexible, economical new service and our ship managers can easily use Stratos ChatCard Online to monitor card purchasing, usage and reloading."

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "We are grateful for the opportunity to continue our long-standing relationship with MISC by providing them with creative tools to help attract and retain qualified seafarers."

Several leading ship-management companies, including Hong Kong's Wallem and Germany's Blue Star, have recently deployed AmosConnect Crew to improve crew welfare. The service complies with the latest ITF recommendation to offer the option of free private email to all crewmembers.

By using AmosConnect Crew, seafarers only need one prepaid ChatCard to access all three modes of communication. In addition, individuals are assigned a vessel-independent personal mailbox plus an international SMS number that can be used on any ship and on shore. Receipt of SMS messages and email is free of charge. Along with the pre-paid aspect of the service, AmosConnect Crew enables users to easily manage their own communications budget.

AmosConnect Crew is part of The Stratos Advantage suite of value-added services that provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes FleetBroadband from Stratos, the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek, and Iridium OpenPort.

The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range.

About MISC Berhad
MISC Berhad is one of Malaysia's largest international shipping lines. The Company's activities include ship ownership, ship operations, ownership and operation of offshore floating facilities, marine repair, marine conversion, engineering and construction. For more information visit www.misc.com.my.

Stratos Successfully Deploys FleetBroadband for Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland (February 2, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has successfully completed an Inmarsat FleetBroadband field trial with Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement. Bernhard Schulte Group owns 90 vessels and manages 650 vessels worldwide.

The three-month field trial was conducted onboard the Bernhard Schulte merchant vessel Marianne Schulte in European waters and the Caribbean Sea. Telaccount Overseas Ltd. managed the installation of a Thrane & Thrane SAILOR 500 FleetBroadband terminal onboard the vessel.

The successful trial led to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement's retaining the FleetBroadband from Stratos system, which it will use to manage the Marianne Schulte's daily operations at sea.

FleetBroadband from Stratos also was successfully integrated with AmosConnect to manage all email traffic. Other applications successfully tested over FleetBroadband during the trial included the Bernhard Schulte office applications, remote support via Ultra VNC, MSN instant messaging, video chat, FTP via Cute FTP, and web browsing for access to maritime web sites and world news.

"We are a busy vessel that carries valuable cargo, so we need to stay in touch with our shore office in Shanghai every day," said Marianne Schulte Captain Abrahim Mohan. "From the beginning we had no problem using FleetBroadband for key operational tasks, because the system is simple to use and reliable. The voice channel is very clear and data transfer is much faster than the system we had before."

Mohan added, "I'm delighted that we are able to keep the FleetBroadband from Stratos system onboard permanently. Our positive experience has led to our recommending the system to 15 of our ship-owner customers."

Adonis Violaris, group marketing and communications director for Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement and director of Telaccount Overseas, said, "The trial gave us the opportunity to evaluate the pros and cons of a new technology and to see how we could make it work for our fleet and our crew. It also enabled Telaccount Overseas to focus completely on meeting customer requirements. We were very satisfied with the performance because we managed to run all our office applications from the vessel over FleetBroadband."

Stratos channel partner One Net Ltd. assisted Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement with many aspects of the Marianne Schulte field trial, providing training on Stratos Dashboard and AmosConnect.

One Net Director Michalis Hadjisttylianou said, "The FleetBroadband system onboard the Marianne Schulte is operated under strict cost-control rules, using the flexibility of Stratos Dashboard. With FleetBroadband from Stratos, the vessel is transmitting higher data volumes than before the trial, at the same spending levels."

The successful Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement field trial was one in an extensive global series of trials that Stratos is conducting to secure feedback from ship managers on FleetBroadband from Stratos and its wide range of value-added services. Stratos has activated several hundred FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "Our ongoing series of FleetBroadband field trials is generating a very high level of positive feedback. Managers of some of the world's largest commercial vessels are finding that FleetBroadband from Stratos provides optimal applications performance, along with unrivaled security and support."

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek and Iridium OpenPort.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage

About Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement was created in 2008 by combining four ship-management organizations already owned by the Schulte Group into one integrated maritime services company. After years of excellence as autonomously managed companies, Hanseatic Shipping, Dorchester Atlantic Marine, Eurasia Group and Vorsetzen Bereederungs- und Schiffahrtskontor combined forces to establish Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement as a unified and extremely resourceful global platform providing a superior portfolio of maritime and engineering services. Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement is a highly integrated maritime services company and a market leader in quality, versatility and fleet size. Its infrastructure of Service and Crew Delivery Centers in more than 25 countries around the globe maintains the highest degree of operational and safety integrity over a managed fleet of more than 700 ships, more than 17,000 employees onboard and 1,000 employees ashore. For more information visit www.bs-shipmanagement.com.

Stratos to Distribute New ViaSat Ruggedized BGAN Terminals

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Terminals offer high functionality for military and first-responder applications--

Bethesda, Maryland (March 19, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has signed an agreement to become a global distributor of two new ViaSat ruggedized BGAN terminals. Stratos will distribute the terminals via its direct sales force and its global network of channel partners.

The ViaSat terminals are the latest additions to Stratos' versatile portfolio of BGAN hardware products, which already includes offerings from Addvalue, Hughes Network Systems and Thrane & Thrane.

BGAN from Stratos is a 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. Stratos now boasts more than 10,000 BGAN activations for military & NGO agencies, media organizations, first responders and professionals in many other industries in 185 countries worldwide.

The ViaSat ruggedized VRT-100, which is small enough to transport in a rucksack, provides voice and high-bandwidth IP connections beyond line-of-sight, even in harsh weather conditions. The terminal also affords 12 hours of transmit time and 24 hours on standby, using standard batteries designed for military radios. The unit's antenna can be placed up to several hundred feet from the unit itself. The ViaSat AN/PSC-14 terminal offers the same features as the VRT-100, in addition to embedded Type 1, HAIPE IS encryption allowing U.S. and multinational secure access.

"This agreement expands our portfolio of BGAN terminals, enabling us to meet diverse customer requirements with a broad selection of ruggedized or encrypted hardware," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "These new ViaSat terminals are ideally suited for military forces, first responders, media organizations, energy and mining companies operating in harsh environments."

Doug Poorman, ViaSat portable satcom programs manager, said, "With its depth of experience delivering BGAN mobile satellite systems, Stratos is highly qualified to deliver the benefits of our new terminals to customers worldwide. Partnering with Stratos enables us to continue our tradition of providing reliable communications for the world's most demanding applications."

About The Stratos Advantage
Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help elevate BGAN from Stratos far above baseline offerings. These value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard, 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.

About ViaSat
ViaSat (www.viasat.com) produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure and efficient communications to any location. The Company provides networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications. ViaSat is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies to the U.S. government. The Company is also the primary technology partner for gateway and customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services. ViaSat has locations in Carlsbad, Calif. and Duluth, Ga., along with its Comsat Laboratories division in Germantown, Md. Additional field offices are located in Boston, Baltimore, Washington DC, Australia, China, India, Italy and Spain.

Stratos Wins Critical WiMAX Radio Licenses in Gulf of Mexico

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--Two zones awarded to Stratos cover wide swath of GoM region --

Stratos Global Corp., the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected as the winning bidder for two of the three geographic zones for 2.5 GHz broadband radio service (BRS) in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The Federal Communications Commission's Auction 86 concluded October 30. The two zones awarded to Stratos cover approximately 90 percent of the structures and platforms in the three auctioned areas.

The 2.5 GHz BRS spectrum is the U.S. standard for WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). Both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint services can be provided in the 2.5 GHz spectrum. Those services are ideally suited for fixed rigs or platforms, work boats and other vessels, and a wide range of mobile communications applications. Speeds and bandwidth in the 2.5 GHz spectrum are comparable to land-based DSL and cable-modem service.

"These critical licenses enable us to introduce new offerings to complement our existing services for the GoM energy industry," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "The IP-based services we soon will introduce will be consistent with the high-bandwidth, low-latency features of our current microwave network and will be competitively priced against VSAT and legacy radio technologies."

Parm added, "Stratos has more than a decade of experience serving the demanding communications requirements of the energy and transportation industries in the often harsh GoM environment. We most recently demonstrated the resiliency of our microwave network in the aftermath of hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008."

The rebuild of the Stratos microwave network in the aftermath of 2005's hurricane Katrina featured multiple ring architecture, redundant beach crossings and enhanced systems for provisioning, service assurance and network monitoring. The network proved its functionality in 2008 in automatic re-routing of traffic and in the rapid restoration of services in areas where hurricane damage had occurred. As testament to the network's effectiveness, several large users significantly expanded their use of Stratos microwave services in 2009.

In the past two years, Stratos investments to upgrade, expand and enhance the functionality and resilience of its microwave network have exceeded US$6 million. Examples include installation of Ethernet radios, replacement of on-shore radio hops with fiber optics, and continued transition to an IP-based network to provide high bandwidth, cost-effective services such as WiMAX.

Stratos expects to offer its new WiMAX services in the third quarter of 2010 and is now selecting equipment vendors and working with potential customers to design, customize and prioritize its build-out.

U.S. Coast Guard Selects Stratos Government Services To Deploy FleetBroadband On Up To 50 Vessels

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

--USCG upgrades communications for its cutters with reliable, high-performance service--

Washington, DC (December 7, 2009) - Stratos Government Services Inc. (SGSI), a global integrator of commercial satellite solutions for the U.S. Dept. of Defense, federal and state government agencies, today announced it has been selected by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to deploy Inmarsat's FleetBroadband mobile broadband satellite service on up to 50 USCG vessels. SGSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stratos Global Corp., the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions.

Under the agreement, SGSI will deploy FleetBroadband on USCG High Endurance Cutters and Medium Endurance Cutters. The broadband service will enable the cutters to interconnect with the USCG data network to exchange operational ship traffic, including SIPRNET and NIPRNET data.

FleetBroadband is a critical component of the USCG's efforts to upgrade technology onboard its ships as they migrate from Inmarsat B lease services to an IP-based architecture. The upgrade is designed to increase the vessels' communications throughput capabilities to operate globally in all weather conditions. SGSI has successfully deployed similar prototype FleetBroadband services on selected USCG vessels.

The SGSI solution includes installation support, training, Multi-Protocol Label Switching interconnectivity, monitoring, engineering, end-to-end service and 24x7 support. USCG also will utilize field-tested, value-added management and monitoring services, known as The Stratos Advantage, to attain the highest possible performance and support from FleetBroadband at the lowest possible cost.

SGSI President Bob Roe said, "This contract award represents a critical component of USCG's technology upgrade and transition to an IP-based communications architecture. Stratos has been providing highly reliable Inmarsat satellite communications solutions to USCG for more than a decade. We consider it an honor and a privilege to have been entrusted with this responsibility, and we are grateful for the opportunity to expand our relationship with USCG."

About FleetBroadband from Stratos
Stratos has activated more than 2,000 Inmarsat FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage

With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range. More than 11,500 mobile users in 180 countries already utilize The Stratos Advantage for BGAN, the land-based version of FleetBroadband.

Zakher Marine Upgrades Vessels to FleetBroadband 150 and AmosConnect from Stratos

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

--New FB150 service provides low-cost entry to broadband environment--

Bethesda, Maryland (November 30, 2009) - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is upgrading Zakher Marine International Inc. (ZMI) vessels to Inmarsat's FleetBroadband 150 (FB150) mobile broadband satellite service.

Working with its channel partner Monarch Telecom, Stratos has already activated FB150 service onboard six ZMI vessels: Zakher Duty; Zakher Pelican; Zakher Eagle; Zakher Supplier; Zakher Atlanta and Zakher Emperor. ZMI vessels provide anchor handling, supply and towage for the merchant marine and offshore oil & gas industries in the Middle East.

To support its growth, ZMI has aggressively implemented the latest technology solutions to help ensure peak vessel performance, crew satisfaction and client satisfaction. To help meet those performance goals, with each FB150 system ZMI is deploying the popular AmosConnect from Stratos messaging service, which integrates vessel and shore-based office applications.

AmosConnect from Stratos is an easy-to-use, yet highly sophisticated service incorporating email, fax, telex, GSM text, interoffice communication, and access for mobile personnel into a single messaging system. Nearly 20,000 AmosConnect from Stratos licenses have been issued and the service is used by more than 200,000 officers and crewmembers.

"The data rates provided by FB150 are much faster than the Mini-M service we had been using. This will help us get more value from applications that help ensure superior crew communications, business productivity and cost efficiency," said Wadie Farah, ZMI Manager, Communications Dept. "The FB150 hardware footprint is also smaller than the Mini-M. These factors, combined with competitive pricing, make FB150 an attractive communications upgrade solution."

While thousands of merchant and commercial fishing vessels have deployed the higher-bandwidth FleetBroadband 250 and FleetBroadband 500 systems, many smaller vessels are examining FB150 from Stratos as an entry-level service. FB150 from Stratos is ideally suited for small to medium-sized vessels requiring single-user Internet access and email. FB150 from Stratos combines a high-quality telephone connection with simultaneous IP data at up to 150kbps and SMS texting. The compact and easy-to-install FB150 offers affordable and reliable communications worldwide.

Stratos has activated more than 2,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. ZMI selected Stratos as its FleetBroadband provider based primarily on the wide range of value-added services that Stratos offers. Those field-tested services, known as The Stratos Advantage, help ship managers attain the highest possible performance and support from FleetBroadband, at the lowest possible cost.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "We are confident that ZMI's upgrade to FB150 and AmosConnect will help the Company meet its productivity goals. In all global regions, we are seeing the strongest interest in FB150 from operators of small to medium-sized fishing vessels, supply ships, offshore utility vessels, barges, tug boats and pleasure yachts." Parm added, "Managers of large cargo vessels also are evaluating FB150 as a low-cost entry to the broadband environment - to replace their current Iridium, Inmarsat Mini-M or Inmarsat B terminals."

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range. More than 11,500 mobile users in 180 countries already utilize The Stratos Advantage for BGAN, the land-based version of FleetBroadband.

About Zakher Marine International
ZMI is based in Abu Dhabi and operates a branch office in Alexandria, Egypt. Founded in 1984, the Company has achieved steady growth, having built new vessels and expanded its fleet with younger vessels to meet the high standards and requirements of its regional and international clients. For more information, please visit www.zmi.ae.

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. For more information visit www.stratosglobal.com.

Stratos Selected by Canadian Federal Government to Provide Mobile Satellite Services

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by the Canadian Federal Government to provide a wide range of Inmarsat mobile satellite systems over a multi-year period.

Stratos is one of the world's largest distributors of Inmarsat mobile satellite systems. The contract, valued at $25 CAD million, was awarded to Stratos subsidiary Stratos Wireless Inc. by the Information Technology Services Branch (ITSB) of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). The agreement enables Stratos to provide products and services to all departments of the Canadian Federal Government, including the Department of National Defence, from 2009 through 2011, followed by two additional one-year options.

Among the systems Stratos is providing to the Canadian Federal Government is Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network), a mobile satellite service 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, or non-existent.

In June, Stratos became the first company licensed to offer BGAN to the Canadian market. 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 now 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.

"This new contract recognizes the high level of service that Stratos has provided to the Canadian Federal Government in the past and ensures that we can continue to serve all of its important agencies well into the future," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "The Canadian government and many other governments worldwide have learned that Stratos is ideally qualified to provide the most sophisticated mobile satellite systems, along with superior service, to support a wide range of mission-critical applications."