| First
Lebanese company Inmarsat distribution partner
Posted: 21 April 2003
Agreement with TRIBAND to market and sell Inmarsat’s
new Regional BGAN; mobile high-speed data communication service
to complement TRIBAND’s existing voice and low-speed solutions
and open up business opportunities in non-urban centers of the region
Beirut, Lebanon — Inmarsat, the Total Communications
Network, today signed the first 'Inmarsat Partnership Agreement'
with a Lebanon-based company, TRIBAND Middle East (Offshore).
With this agreement, TRIBAND becomes an authorised Distribution
Partner for Inmarsat Regional BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network),
the fastest GPRS-compatible, mobile data communication service that
Inmarsat launched late last year.
Traditionally focused on the mobile voice market , TRIBAND M.E.
adds to its existing services portfolio, with Regional BGAN, a new
service, “one that complements our existing voice and low-speed
data solutions and opens up business opportunities in brand new
vertical markets,” says Triband M.E.’s Executive Vice
President, Maroun Chammas.
Launched to the Middle East in December 2002, Inmarsat’s
Regional BGAN delivers data speed of up to 144kbit/s via a lightweight
notebook-sized satellite IP modem with fixed or wireless connection
to a PC or PDA.
“The mobility feature in Inmarsat Regional BGAN along with
its fast data connectivity capability are perfect solutions to the
majority of our customer base, highly mobile businesses and corporate
travelers,” said Chammas.
Along with targeting its existing customers, TRIBAND M.E. believes
that Regional BGAN is a perfect solution for vertical industries
whose business expansion into the rural areas of the region demands
communication capabilities.
Chammas explains: ”the International Data Corporation (IDC)
estimates that only 2% of the Middle East and North African rural
populations have access to terrestrial telephony facilities. If
businesses are to expand out of the region’s urban centers,
access to connectivity will be a major obstacle.”
“Regional BGAN overcomes these connectivity obstacles especially
when vertical sectors such as finance and banking, tourism and manufacturing,
are concerned,” said Chammas.
Inmarsat’s Regional BGAN allows businesses and governments
to have access in the satellite footprint to mobile broadband services
where no reliable high-speed data networks are available. It enables
remote access to corporate networks, to the Internet, to e-mail,
to Virtual Private Networks and to file transfers.
For the last few years, TRIBAND M.E. has been successfully developing
its network of distributors in the Middle East and Africa. Being
part of the Chammas Group of companies, one of the largest privately
owned groups in the Near East, North America and Africa, TRIBAND
has immediate reach to the oil and gas, transportation and technology
sectors.
Samer Halawi, Regional Director for the Middle and Africa at Inmarsat
Ltd. said ”TRIBAND has the right market approach, an extended
market reach, and a thorough understanding of the region’s
connectivity requirements. We believe TRIBAND M.E. would be a strategic
and successful partner for using one of our most important services
in the region.”
About Triband Middle East
Backed by a strong knowledge and experience in the IT world, TRIBAND
Middle East is a company specialising in the business of providing
mobile solutions for mobile people. Our mission is to be the leading
mobile enabler company in the Middle East providing consumers with
innovative mobile products that boost simple tariff structures.
For more information see www.tribandmiddleeast.com.
About Inmarsat Limited
Inmarsat Ltd owns and operates a unique global mobile satellite
network and delivers its communications solutions through a worldwide
network of approximately 260 distributors and other service providers
operating in over 80 countries to end users in the maritime, land
and aeronautical sectors.
The company has a portfolio of mobile satellite solutions, including
voice, fax, intranet and Internet access and other data services.
The company has more than 22 years of experience in designing,
implementing and operating satellite networks.
At the end of June 2002, approximately 250,000 terminals were
registered to access Inmarsat Ltd’s services.
Inmarsat Ltd is also supported by partners in the fields of equipment
manufacture, software provision and systems integration.
Inmarsat Ltd is a subsidiary of Inmarsat Ventures plc.
Inmarsat is the exclusive global partner of the FIA World Rally
Championship.
For more information see http://www.inmarsat.com.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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