One of the most talked-about BGAN systems is the The Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network which was launched over the I4 (Inmarsat-4) satellite system. Inmarsat BGAN systems has been specified to support point to point telecommunication services on portable and semi fixed land mobile platforms with low to medium gain non-tracking antennas providing bit rates in the range 216 Kbps to 432 Kbps in downlink, and 72 Kbps to 432 Kbps in uplink, depending on type of terminal.
BGAN, or Broadband Global Area Network is a satellite based uplink that provides broadband speeds. BGAN provides seamless network coverage across about 85 percent of the world’s land mass, so users can get broadband wherever they roam, not just in major metropolitan areas. With a single BGAN device, you can access broadband data applications at speeds up to half a megabit per second and make a phone call at the same time. BGAN terminals are compact, lightweight and can be carried as easily as a laptop. A fully functional broadband mobile office can be set up and shut down in minutes. The smallest BGAN terminal weighs less than one kilo. BGAN supports the latest IP services and traditional circuit-switched voice and data. Integrating seamlessly with corporate networks, it also supports legacy applications and provides an easy upgrade path to IP.
