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Inmarsat launches broadband service BGan
MUMBAI: Inmarsat has announced the successful launch of its Broadband Global Area Network (BGan) service. The company unveiled the new service with representatives of its distribution partners and manufacturers.
Six years in development, Inmarsat says that BGan is the world’s first mobile communications service to provide both voice and broadband data simultaneously through a truly portable device on a global basis. It is also the first to offer guaranteed IP data rates on demand.
Delivered via the Inmarsat-4 satellites – the world’s most advanced commercial communications spacecraft – the service is initially available across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Following the successful launch of Inmarsat’s second I-4 satellite on 8 November 2005, network coverage will be extended to North and South America from next year.
The two I-4 satellites will deliver broadband coverage across 85 per cent of the world’s landmass and be available to 98 per cent of the world’s population.
Inmarsat COO Michael Butler says, “BGan delivers broadband where other networks can’t. It enables anyone to set up a broadband mobile office in minutes and remain fully productive wherever they are on the planet.”
Butler adds, “Once again, through Inmarsat’s ongoing commitment to innovation, we have established a new benchmark for our industry. The new launch marks a key milestone in our vision to deliver broadband for a mobile planet.”
BGan offers IP data speeds of up to 492kbps, with the option of guaranteed data rates up to 256kbps. The service is designed for mobile users who want dependable, secure broadband access when working in locations with an unreliable or non-existent telecoms infrastructure.
BGan also enables users to access their corporate network via a secure VPN connection, use e-mail and other office applications, browse the Internet, send large file attachments, stream video or audio – and make a phone call at the same time. It also supports a range of encryption standards for secure communications.
The service is accessed through a range of lightweight satellite terminals – the smallest is about half the size of a laptop. BGan terminals can be connected in minutes using wired or wireless connections, including Bluetooth and WLAN 802.11b.
BGan can be used by single users or small teams wherever and whenever reliable voice and broadband data communications are needed.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
