WASHINGTON, DC, - Stratos Government Services Inc. (SGSI), a global integrator of commercial satellite solutions for the U.S. Dept. of Defense, federal and state government agencies, announced it has been selected by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to deploy Inmarsat's FleetBroadband mobile broadband satellite service on up to 50 USCG vessels. SGSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stratos Global Corp.
Under the agreement, SGSI will deploy FleetBroadband on USCG High Endurance Cutters and Medium Endurance Cutters. The broadband service will enable the cutters to interconnect with the USCG data network to exchange operational ship traffic, including SIPRNET and NIPRNET data.
FleetBroadband is a critical component of the USCG's efforts to upgrade technology onboard its ships as they migrate from Inmarsat B lease services to an IP-based architecture. The upgrade is designed to increase the vessels' communications throughput capabilities to operate globally in all weather conditions. SGSI has successfully deployed similar prototype FleetBroadband services on selected USCG vessels.
The SGSI solution includes installation support, training, Multi-Protocol Label Switching interconnectivity, monitoring, engineering, end-to-end service and 24x7 support. USCG also will utilize field-tested, value-added management and monitoring services, known as The Stratos Advantage, to attain the highest possible performance and support from FleetBroadband at the lowest possible cost.
About FleetBroadband from Stratos
Stratos has activated more than 2,000 Inmarsat FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.
FleetBroadband from Stratos also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos is now available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.
Communications managers will find that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.
Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.
FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range. More than 11,500 mobile users in 180 countries already utilize The Stratos Advantage for BGAN, the land-based version of FleetBroadband.
In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.
