Roadpost signs deal with France Telecom Mobile Satellite
Communications to bring BGAN services to North America
Roadpost among the first to offer subscription plans for next
generation satellite broadband services.
Toronto, ON (February 6, 2006) – Roadpost Inc., a leader of global voice and
data communications solutions for the remote worker, announces that it has
entered a partnership agreement with France Telecom Mobile Satellite
Communications to provide BGAN (broadband global area network) services to
North American customers. This represents one of the first agreements with a
North American supplier to bring this revolutionary portable satellite
technology to the business, government and consumer markets.
Inmarsat’s BGAN is the world’s first mobile communications service of any kind
to provide both voice and broadband data simultaneously through a single, truly
portable device on a global basis. It is also the first mobile communications
service to offer guaranteed data rates on demand. BGAN will be initially
accessible in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Coverage for North and
South America is planned for mid-2006. BGAN’s flexibility and ease of use makes
it an ideal choice for remote workers in a wide range of industries, from oil
and gas exploration and the military to government, journalism and emergency
aid workers.
Morris Shawn, president and CEO of Roadpost, says, “France Telecom Mobile
Satellite Communications has been a proven industry leader in regional BGAN
(RBGAN) and has demonstrated considerable expertise and knowledge in this area.
Together we can offer a full range of service packages designed for a broad
range of user needs, as well as a number of unique value adds, including a
customer portal to access advanced management features. France Telecom Mobile
Satellite Communications is also the only supplier to offer a true prepaid
platform in real time. BGAN is a revolutionary technology that will expand the
usage of portable satellite services beyond traditional markets, and we are
delighted to be in on the ‘ground floor’ of this concept. In signing this
partnership agreement with such a seasoned industry leader – combined with our
own leadership and experience in mobile communications - we are well ahead of
the game in bringing the best of BGAN services to North American customers.”
Eric Verheylewegen, Director Americas of France Telecom Mobile Satellite
Communications, notes, “The launch of BGAN is a major milestone in mobile
satellite communications and we are pleased to work with leading service
providers such as Roadpost in bringing this technology to a global market.
Their market reach and considerable expertise in providing mobile satellite
services to a diverse base of customers will be instrumental in building BGAN
adoption in North America, which we consider to be a key market.”
BGAN terminal costs start at US $2495 ($3295 CDN) and are priced based on data
transmission speeds and robustness. Terminals are available for single users or
small teams, and can be configured to accommodate WiFi, BlueTooth, Ethernet and
more. Price plans for subscription services also include a monthly fee, plus
per minute and per megabyte charges for transmission of voice and data. In
addition, Roadpost offers a selection of cost saving voice and data bundles for
a broad spectrum of needs, from light, occasional users, to long-term heavy
users.
About France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications
France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications is a subsidiary of France Telecom
which markets satellite mobile services (Inmarsat, Thuraya and Iridium). The
professional customer base involves a wide range of marine sectors (navy,
merchant navy, pleasure boats, cruisers and fishing boats), the media, NGOs,
security, construction, the oil and transport industry. In 2004, France Telecom
Mobile Satellite Communications generated a turnover of € 161 million. It has a
very active distribution network abroad (100 distributors) and sales offices in
France, Germany, the Netherlands, Algeria, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and the
United States. France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications has a 20% market
share of Inmarsat, Thuraya and Iridium.
About Roadpost Inc.
Founded in 1991, Roadpost (www.roadpost.com)
provides customized global communications to individuals and corporations. The
company’s comprehensive portfolio includes International Cellular, Iridium
satellite, International BlackBerry and Worldwide Internet services providing
complete global coverage, no matter where the destination. Alliances with
industry leaders such as mmO2, Transatel, Swisscom, Telecom Italia Mobile,
Vodafone, Bell Mobility, Telus Mobility, Iridium, iPass, Research in Motion,
Motorola and Nokia allow Roadpost to deliver reliable and secure communications
with the largest network of worldwide coverage. In addition, affiliations with
loyalty programs American Airlines Aadvantage® and Aeroplan® provide customers
with an opportunity to earn loyalty points when using Roadpost’s services.
Contact: Cathy-Anne O’Brien, Xposure PR Inc., (416) 691-5206,
cathyanne@xposurepr.com.