Ocean race video-call marks launch of global broadband
Posted on Fri, Feb 27, 2009
The arrival of global coverage for Inmarsat's pioneering FleetBroadband maritime communication service was celebrated over a live video-call link from the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Inmarsat president Michael Butler in Sydney, Australia, spoke face to face with Andrew Cape, navigator for the Volvo Ocean Race yacht Il Mostro, as it sped for Cape Horn on the fifth leg of the Inmarsat-sponsored round-the-world race.
The video-call, made via FleetBroadband, marked the inauguration of Inmarsat's new I-4 Asia-Pacific coverage region, which became operational at 20:00 UTC on 24 February.
Media event
Michael spoke with Andrew Cape during a special media event staged by TC Communications, an Inmarsat service provider based in New South Wales.
Michael said: “This is an important milestone for Inmarsat, not just in its provision of mobile broadband services in Australia and across the whole of Asia Pacific, but in the services it delivers globally.
“We were established as a global operator, and seamless global coverage has always been at the core of our service provision.
Commitment
“It reflects the requirements of the many different government and commercial sectors that we support, and underpins our commitment to those users,” he said.
Global coverage for FleetBroadband follows the successful conclusion of Inmarsat's I-4 satellite repositioning program, which has resulted in the creation of three new I-4 coverage regions:
I-4 Americas – from 98 degrees West, covering the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
I-4 EMEA – from 25 degrees East, covering the Atlantic and Indian Oceans
I-4 Asia-Pacific – from 143.5 degrees East, covering the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
FleetBroadband users in Asia-Pacific will find their terminal automatically locks on to the new satellite, and they need take no additional action. However, some terminals may require software or upgrades or other user action. End-users should contact their equipment supplier if unsure.
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