R-BGAN

R-BGAN stands for Regional Broadband Global Area Network, this system is implemented by Inmarsat to provide IP connectivity to satellite users offering a commercial data-only service. It provides IP connectivity with data rate up to 144 Kbps.

R-BGAN is considered as the first phase of the Broadband Global Area Network “BGAN” which will cover most of the globe.

R-BGAN provides a wide range of services: email and messaging, data file transfer, internet access, intranet access.

In R-BGAN, users will be charged for packet data services based upon the amount of sent and received information rather than the connection time.

R-BGAN coverage includes almost all of Europe, Northern and parts of Central Africa, central Asia, the middle east, and the Indian sub-continent.

To achieve IP connectivity in R-BGAN, Inmarsat implements Satellite Access System “SAS” in Italy. SAS contains receiving systems and GPRS network owned by Inmarsat to offer the connectivity to ISPs for internet cloud access, this acts as a gateway between satellite users and Internet data network.

R-BGAN users can interface with satellite through mobile satellite unit “MSU” which consists of laptop or PC and a satellite modem. On the other hand, Inmarsat GPRS terrestrial network ”SAS” interfaces with internet through service provider point of presence “SP PoP”. Both MSU and SP PoP form the User Segment.

For the provision of R-BGAN, the satellite resource capacity is leased by Inmarsat from the geostationary (GEO) spacecraft of the Thuraya regional system, this forms the Space Segment.

As a result of this technology, users can have mobile and high speed data connectivity with wide area coverage.

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