GloCall
expands regional BGAN distribution to Iraq
Posted: 22 September 2003
Growing demand calls for more resellers and customer support
availability, says GloCall
In response to a growing demand for Regional BGAN (Broadband Global
Area Network), an Inmarsat IP mobile data communication service
that delivers fast internet access via satellite, GloCall is expanding
its Regional BGAN reseller network in Kuwait and Iraq.
GloCall is an Inmarsat distribution partner and a business division
of France Telecom FTMSC (France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communicaions).
“Growing demand for Regional BGAN from Iraq and its surrounding
countries calls for more partners and customer support availability,”
commented GloCall’s commercial director, Danny Wassenaar.
“We currently have several active Regional BGAN resellers
in Iraq and Kuwait. To date, our partner channel helped us capture
more than 65 per cent of the Regional BGAN market share in the Middle
East. However, the demand is high thanks to the success of the service
and we are actively looking for more partners in Jordan, Kuwait
and Iraq,” said Wassenaar.
Since the launch of the service late last year, Inmarsat’s
distribution partners have been actively promoting and expanding
Regional BGAN’s market share through direct communication
with potential corporate end users and via a qualified channel of
satellite telecommunication partners.
Launched in November 2002, Regional BGAN offers vertical industries
and business individuals operating from remote areas where telecommunication
is not available or in areas where mobile high-speed data is not
available, mobile data communication that are more than twice as
fast as current terrestrial General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
services.
The Regional BGAN service, available in up to 99 countries across
the Middle East, Europe, Northern and Central Africa, the Indian
Subcontinent, and most of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS) , boosts businesses data exchange capacity to up to 144 kbit/s
using a secure shared channel and is deployed instantly.
The service is delivered through a lightweight satellite modem
that could be connected to a single computer or a network of computers
with bluetooth, or a USB or Ethernet cable.
Because it is based on Internet Protocol (IP) packet technology,
users only pay for the amount of data they send and receive, and
not for time spent online. This enables users to stay ‘always
connected’.
Glocall Middle East partners will be able to use Globill Online,
an advanced online billing management tool in order to control and
monitor their fleet of satellite terminals. Especially for Regional
BGAN, Glocall Middle East developed a credit watch system, Glocall
Middle East partners can add or transfer credits.
Beside Globill Online, Glocall Middle East offers a range of value
added service to the Regional BGAN network as a secure VPN Solution
via any switched network as X25, Frame Relay or any existing network
infrastructure, R-BGAN User Home page*, Full Pre-paid system with
vouchers, and many more to come in the near future.
Wassenaar explained: “Regional BGAN initially targets vertical
businesses in urban as well as remote areas who need a data connectivity
solution to support their local and wide wireless area networks,
their mobile staff, and their need to be connected in areas where
Internet access is either slow or does not exist. Although the service
success does not depend on conflict zones, however, the lack of
connectivity infrastructure for the foreseeable future, the fluid
security situation and the in-flux of businesses into the country,
all create a strong demand for cost efficient and mobile Internet
and networking access devices that deliver secure and high-speed
connectivity.”
Wassenaar said that while Regional BGAN is gaining grounds in its
vertical markets, such as banking, construction and oil and gas,
businesses going in and out of Iraq, as well as the media and NGOs
today have fairly limited options in staying connected with the
rest of the world. “We realize that this trend will continue
for the next few years; our reseller channel needs to be there to
service the trend as well as support our customers when they need
us.”
For more information see www.glocall.com.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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