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GMPCS Places First Order of Personal Broadband Satellite Terminals for Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) Service

Posted on: Thursday, 28 July 2005, 03:01 CDT

GMPCS, a full service provider of global mobile personal communications via satellite, announced today that it has placed the first order for personal broadband satellite terminals for the Inmarsat BGAN service. The order for 1,000 units was placed with Nera SatCom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nera.

The Nera WorldPro 1000 terminal will enable customers of GMPCS to connect to Inmarsat's Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service at speeds of up to 384 kbps from 85 percent of the world's land mass. The service is scheduled for availability from the fourth quarter of 2005 and will enable users to access both voice and data communications simultaneously from a single satellite terminal.

"Inmarsat's BGAN service has the potential to revolutionise mobile satellite communications, offering high-speed data connectivity and voice communications from a terminal half the size of a laptop computer," said Craig Van Wagner, president and chief executive officer of GMPCS. "GMPCS is committed to having equipment on the shelf and ready for distribution immediately upon commercial availability of the BGAN service."

Measuring only 15 x 20 cm and weighing less than 1 kg, the Nera WorldPro 1000 is the smallest broadband satellite communications terminal on the market. Designed specifically to be easy to carry and easy to use, the terminal is targeted at users in the military, aid and media sectors who need instant access to broadband communications in areas with poor terrestrial communications infrastructure. Both wireless and wireline options for connecting computers and voice handsets provide optimal flexibility on location.

GMPCS' order for the Nera WorldPro 1000 comes only a month after the product was launched on the market. The order for 1,000 units will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2005.

"GMPCS' order testifies to the strong market demand for personal broadband satellite terminals," comments Mr. Stig-Are Mogstad, president of Nera SatCom. He continues, "It is a very positive signal of the market's belief in the uptake of the BGAN service."

About GMPCS

Founded in 1996, GMPCS Personal Communications, a subsidiary of Telenor Satellite Services, is a full service provider of global mobile personal communications via satellite. The company is a supplier of equipment, accessories, and value-added solutions and serves many Fortune 500 and Global 1000 corporations. The company realized revenues in excess of $24 million in 2004, a growth of well more than 60 percent over the previous two years. GMPCS currently has approximately 40 employees including Sales, Marketing, Technical Support, Accounting, Customer Support and Equipment Management. Telenor of Norway is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (TEL) and NASDAQ (TELN).

About Nera

Nera is a world-leading global supplier of fixed wireless and satellite communication equipment and systems. Nera designs, develops, manufactures and markets point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radio link equipment, satellite terminals and gateways for mobile and fixed satellite communications. Nera is a major supplier to Inmarsat. Nera has delivered satellite gateway and terminal solutions in Europe, Latin & South America, and Asia supporting broadband applications such as Internet access, VPN, Multicasting, Voice over IP and e-learning for business and home users. Nera is at the very forefront of the development of the global industry standard DVB-RCS, and is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

Source: Business Wire

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