What is BGAN?
BGAN is an acroynm for "Broadband Global Area Network," which is run by Inmarsat. However, the terminals themselves are manufactured (under liscense) by manufacturers - similar in relationship to cell phones and service.

Where does BGAN work?
Most anywhere in the world - except for the poles. Please see our BGAN Overview page for a coverage map.

How much does the service cost?
Service can be obtained for as little as $43.00/month for the Starter package. Please see our BGAN Service Pricing page for more information on which plan is right for you.

How Fast is BGAN?
The speed of a BGAN terminal is dependant on which terminal you are using. The theoretical maximum speed of the service is 492 kbps - roughly the speed of budget DSL. Actual throughput is dependant on many variables, such as current network congestion, although speeds between 300-400 kbps are to be expected. Latency (ping) is typically around 1000 ms (1 second) on the BGAN network.

How does the telephone service work?
Depending on the terminal chosen, a standard RJ-11 telephone, ISDN handset, or Bluetooth handset can be attached to the BGAN terminal for telephone communication over the BGAN network. Each BGAN unit is assigned it's own dedicated phone number (country code 870), through which incoming and outgoing calls are routed.

How does the Fax service work?
Fax suppost is dependant on the terminal chosen. If the unit possesses an RJ-11 port, then a standard fax machine may be hooked up to the unit for faxing capability. Otherwise, PC-based software faxing is reccomended, using the internet.

Can anyone point the terminal?
Yes! Many BGAN terminals use audio aids in conjunction with a compass to help in aligning the terminal to receive the best signal from the BGAN satellites. Some terminals also incorporate visual pointing aids to facilitate this process.

How many computers may connect to the terminal?
This is completely dependant on which terminal is chosen. All terminals will support up to 254 computers via DHCP, but many not have the necessary connections to support this without addittional hardware. Some terminals support USB, Ethernet (sometimes dual), and 802.11b/g wireless.

What is a SIM Card?
A SIM card is a small chip that resides on piece of plastic that is used to activate and identify your BGAN unit - identical in operation to the SIM card on a GSM-based cell phone. In essence, the SIM card is the physical representation of your BGAN account. As such, the SIM card can be moved between BGAN terminals and your account information will allow that BGAN terminal to operate seamlessly - without any time delay.

What is the difference between BGAN systems and the Mobile Satellite Dishes?
BGAN systems were designed for superior portability and, thus, are better suited to portable applications. However, of course, this does not mean that they are ill-suited to fixed installations. BGAN terminals are generally less expensive than mobile satellite dishes, but BGAN service, due to it's global nature and need to cater to portability, is more epensive.

Will it work inside a building?

Yes. And no. A BGAN terminal will not operate with its antenna inside a building - solid objects (except transparent objects such as windows) obstruct the signal of BGAN terminals and render them inoperable. However, many BGAN systems support seperating their antennas from the terminal, allowing the antenna to be placed outside, while the terminal remains inside. For terminals that do not support this function, the can be protectively mounted outside and can be communicated with from the inside of a building via an ethernet cable or wirless 802.11b/g.

Can the system be mounted on a building?
Yes. Please see the question above.

How much power does the BGAN system use?
Naturally, this is dependant on the terminal chosen. All portable terminals incorporate internal rechargable batteries, which typically allow a unit to remain in standby for up to 36 hours or communicate for up to 5 hours.

Can I do Video Streaming over the system?
Yes! To facilitate this, Inmarsat has created a traffic prioritization scheme that allows for guaranteed transmission rates of 32, 64, 128, and 256 kbps, at an addittional cost.

Will it work with both Mac and PC?
Absolutely! Any device that is ethernet or 802.11b, TCP/IP, and DHCP compatible may use the terminal. This includes virtually all laptops made within the decade, as well as many handheld devices and consumer electronics.

How does weather affect the terminal's ability to connect?
For the most part, no. Weather's affect on the wavelength that the BGAN service uses is minimal and should operate in most conditions - considerably better than, for example, satellite television.