BGAN data rates now considerably cheaper than GSM

The gadget to beat all gadgets, Tariam’s BGAN is the world’s first global mobile communications service to deliver simultaneous voice and broadband through one single truly portable device and is now competitive on price.

If your work takes you away from the office, or you’re an intrepid traveller trekking through the jungle, Tariam’s new BGAN [Broadband Global Area Network] service can help you stay connected with the world and crucially is now compatible with Blackberry’s and PDA’s. This means groups of users with PDA’s/Blackberry’s can access their mobile email when working in areas where there’s no infrastructure and no GSM or 3G coverage.

Satellite communications used to be considered expensive. The good news is Tariam’s data rates are now considerably cheaper than GSM for data in the UK and abroad and competitive on voice roaming charges while abroad. UK mobile networks charge around £6 to £10.28 per megabyte for mobile data in the UK, more abroad. Customers using BGAN can get their effective data charges down to under £2 per MB. For large users, this can mean very substantial savings.

You can set up a broadband mobile office in minutes – wherever you are on the planet. You can access your data applications at speeds of up to half a megabit (synchronous) and make a phone call at the same time. In a world-first for mobile services, you can also select guaranteed data rates on demand, with a choice of rates to suit your application requirements. BGAN also provides ISDN and the ability to send and receive SMS text messages.

BGAN delivers seamless network coverage across 85% of the world’s landmass, and 98% of the world’s population (coverage will be extended to worldwide around mid 2008). Users are able to get broadband wherever they go, not just in major cities or airports. BGAN is currently accessible in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America.

With BGAN, users don’t need any specialist technical knowledge on satellite communications. The product is a sophisticated communications device, but using the service is straightforward for anyone who is comfortable with using a PC or a telephone. All you need to communicate is a PC, a BGAN terminal and an ordinary telephone handset.

The BGAN service is accessed via a small, lightweight satellite terminal. The smallest devices are designed to suit single users whose primary concern is portability. Several of the units can easily fit inside your existing laptop bag and weigh less than a kilo.

Key features:

• Clear step-by-step instructions on pointing the terminal and setting up a satellite connection
• Ability to customise the data connection options to match your application requirements
• Ability to pre-configure user access settings, enabling you to restrict access to Streaming IP services, for example
• Convenient online access to account and billing information
• Personal and corporate versions
• Access to text messaging and telephony features

Payment and contract flexibility mean there’s a package to suit every requirement and with speeds to match terrestrial broadband services, the service is the ultimate mobile communications solution for anyone who works or travels to locations where the local telecoms networks are unreliable or non-existent.

BGAN’s superior performance, portability and ease of use make it a compelling proposition for journalists, military personnel, emergency responders, aid workers and other established users.

But, BGAN also brings the benefits of mobile satellite communications to new users, such as engineers, consultants, project managers and sales executives.

Prices for the terminal start at around £1,000. Further information on Tariam’s products can be found at

www.tariam.co.uk or by calling +(44) 0844 874 0600.

Back to Press Centre