10th Jan 2007 13:20
Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT), the leading provider of global mobilesatellite communications, and ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT), a provider ofdigital communications for commercial and military applications, haveannounced a co-funded project to develop a new mobile satellitecommunications terminal for the defense sector. The collaboration willprovide secure, reliable and highly mobile voice and high-speed datacommunications to the armed forces. £ Targeted specifically at the U.S. and NATO markets, the ViaSatIntegrated Terminal will combine Inmarsat's IP-based Broadband GlobalArea Network (BGAN) technology with ViaSat AltaSec(R) IP inlineencryption equipment to create a portable, ruggedized BGAN userterminal capable of uplinking IP data fully compliant with HAIPE(TM)version 1.3.5 Type 1 security standards. The new terminal takesadvantage of ViaSat's long history of supplying ruggedized equipmentto tactical warfighters in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. £ "ViaSat's leadership in manpack MILSATCOM terminal equipment makesthem a natural partner to manufacture BGAN terminals that can meet thedemanding requirements of defense agencies and military servicesworldwide," said Perry Melton, vice president of sales & marketing forInmarsat. £ BGAN is the world's first mobile communications service to deliversimultaneous voice and broadband IP data to a highly portable deviceon a global basis. It supports mobile broadband data at speeds up tohalf-a-megabit per second, as well as guaranteed IP data rates up to256 kbps. Engineers from both companies have already successfullydemonstrated the compatibility of using the BGAN service with ViaSatKG-250 Type-1 High Assurance Internet Protocol EncryptorInteroperability Standard (HAIPE IS) compliant encryption productsover the new constellation of Inmarsat advanced broadband satellites,the Inmarsat-4s. £ "We know that the BGAN capabilities are highly attractive to avariety of military users, and this agreement with ViaSat will provideenhanced hardware to maximize its potential in that sector," saidMelton. "ViaSat has the expertise and insight into U.S., NATO andAllied military needs to develop a BGAN terminal that is a viableaugmentation to existing military satcom services." £ "This terminal will combine BGAN's unprecedented levels ofbroadband connectivity for Communications on the Move and other highmobility requirements, with the military's needs for a hardwareplatform that meets the ruggedness and security needs of IP-centric,tactical users," said Phil Berry, vice president and general managerof Government SATCOM Systems for ViaSat. "By developing a BGANterminal integrated with HAIPE IS security, we create a near termsecure connectivity capability needed by today's warfighters. We lookforward to further exciting developments through our strategicpartnership with Inmarsat." £ HAIPE is a trademark of the National Security Agency. ViaSat andAltaSec are registered trademarks of ViaSat, Inc. £ Forward-looking Statements £ Certain statements in this announcement constitute"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. PrivateSecurities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-lookingstatements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that maycause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industryresults, to be materially different from those projected in theforward-looking statements. These factors include: general economicand business conditions; changes in technology; timing or delay insigning, commencement, implementation and performance of programmes,or the delivery of products or services under them; structural changein the satellite industry; relationships with customers; competition;and ability to attract personnel. You are cautioned not to rely onthese forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date ofthis announcement. We undertake no obligation to update or revise anyforward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations orany change in events, conditions or circumstances. £ About ViaSat (www.viasat.com) £ ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other communicationproducts that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to anylocation. The Company provides networking products and managed networkservices for enterprise IP applications; is a key supplier ofnetwork-centric military communications and encryption technologies tothe U.S. government; and is the primary technology partner for gatewayand customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellitebroadband services. The company's three wholly owned subsidiaries, USMonolithics, Efficient Channel Coding, and Enerdyne Technologies Inc.,design and produce complimentary products such as monolithic microwaveintegrated circuits, DVB-S2 satellite communication components, andvideo data link systems. ViaSat has locations in Carlsbad, CA, andDuluth, GA, along with its Comsat Laboratories division in Germantown,MD. Additional field offices are located in Boston, MA, Baltimore, MD,Washington DC, Australia, China, India, Italy, and Spain. £ About Inmarsat £ Inmarsat plc (LSE:ISAT) is the leading provider of global mobilesatellite communications. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providingreliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments,enterprises and other organisations, with a range of services that canbe used on land, at sea or in the air. The company's services aredelivered through a global network of partners, including the world'sleading telecoms groups. For the year ended 31 December 2005, Inmarsatplc had total revenue of US$491.1 million and profit before tax ofUS$95.5 million. More information can be found at www.inmarsat.com. Copyright Business Wire 2007Related Shares:
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