We’ve been following up on the INMARSAT BGAN voice and data service (previously described a couple of weeks ago). Here is what we have learned.

To begin with, the satellite that will provide Pacific Ocean (north and south) coverage is awaiting the correct time for launch, sometime early in 2007. It will take about five months after launch for the satellite to be operational. We’ve been told late ’07 or early ’08 should be a safe date. At this point the entire globe, except for the poles, will have coverage.

Next, there are a number of manufacturers of terminals with various features. One of those recommended was Hughes Network Systems. They have an externally mountable antenna and an 802.11 WiFi connection to make wiring easy. We’ve not talked to Hughes, but BGAN service provider, Stratos, recommended the Hughes model HNS 9201. A Google search found them ranging in cost from US$2300 to $2700. We’re not sure about the pole mount units.

There are many different data plans available. One of the plans which looked of interest was based on a $50 monthly charge and then $6.50 per MB for data. We asked for a comparison to Iridium with its very slow 2400-baud data rate at roughly US$1.20/minute, and the comparison goes something like this:

• Each time you log on there in a minimum data charge of 50KB, whether or not it is used.
• Each subsequent session from this initial log on has a minimum data charge of 10KB.
• If you use less, say 7KB, you are charged the full 10KB.
• Excluding the monthly costs, at $6.50 for a MB of data, each one of those 10KB sessions is going to run six and a half cents.
• This is roughly 1/10th the cost of the same amount of data on Iridium, if the example we’ve been given is correct.
• This comparison does not include the incremental billing losses or amortization of the monthly fee (note – there are plans with no monthly fee and multiple MB packages).
• Based on our own data usage when cruising offshore, with a fair amount of e-mail traffic each day for business and family, and lots of weather data, we’d use maybe 1MB per day. The more data you need, the more efficient the system becomes.
• Anywhere cellular data or WiFi hotspots are available, they are going to be much cheaper and probably faster.

Apparently INMARSAT has recently purchased the ACES satellite system, which operated over Indonesia. This system allows satellite phone calls and data (slower) from hand type phone sets. They will be adding this system to their other satellites in the near future. We could not find anything out in detail about costs, or timing, but this does seem to offer another option.

Finally, the folks at Stratos said that fully marinized BGAN units from the usual sources will be available early next year, at considerably higher prices than the FollowMeTV approach.

Bottom line – BGAN appears to offer high speed data at much more reasonable costs than previously available afloat – with much smaller hardware. We don’t have time to check it out further before heading to Mexico next month, but will be keeping an eye peeled. If any of you learn more or get real world experience, let us know how it goes.