Definition
Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) is a global satellite network developed by Inmarsat that offers mobile broadband connectivity. It allows users to set up a broadband mobile office in any location around the world. The service is available via small and highly portable devices offering voice and data services simultaneously.
Phonetic
The phonetics of “Broadband Global Area Network” would be: Brohd-band Gloh-buhl Ehr-ee-uh Net-wurk
Key Takeaways
- Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) is a global satellite network that provides broadband internet access and voice telephony services to users worldwide. This enables them to stay connected even in remote or hard-to-reach areas.
- BGAN is highly portable and mobile, making it suitable for remote field operations, disaster response, broadcasting, and various other applications. Its terminals are compact, lightweight, and easy to set up, providing a reliable satellite link within minutes.
- Another significant benefit of BGAN is its seamless network coverage. It operates via geostationary satellites, offering almost global coverage (with the exception of the extreme polar regions). This ensures that users can have reliable internet and voice communication services almost anywhere in the world.
Importance
Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) plays a critical role in global connectivity since it’s a satellite network that offers global, mobile broadband internet services from any location around the world. It’s important as BGAN can provide simultaneous voice and high-speed data in one small, lightweight, portable device. This technology is vital particularly in remote areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable or unreliable. Furthermore, it’s significantly used during disaster relief operations to restore communication rapidly, ensuring critical information flows seamlessly. It’s also a preferred choice for journalists or explorers in remote areas due to its compactness and global coverage accessibility.
Explanation
Broadband Global Area Network, usually abbreviated as BGAN, is a mobile communications system created principally to provide virtually uninterrupted broadband internet connectivity anywhere in the world, most notably in remote and rural areas. Developed by Inmarsat, a leading player in global mobile satellite communications, BGAN serves users with the flexibility of establishing a reliable high-speed data or voice communication from any point on the globe, excluding the extreme Polar Regions. This allows people isolated from conventional networks due to geographical distance or lack of infrastructure to remain connected, thus optimizing communication and making it easier to share information.BGAN is predominantly used by those who often work in remote places such as field researchers, emergency responders, and journalists in conflict zones or natural disaster settings. By using a portable BGAN terminal, they can set up a mobile office in a matter of minutes to send and receive important data or establish voice communication. In addition, it also serves commercial shipping services in high seas and aviation services at high altitudes, facilitating communication and data transmission in risk-prone and inaccessible areas. While it is not a substitute for traditional forms of internet connectivity due to its cost, BGAN fulfills an important role by providing vital connections in places where other forms of connectivity are either impossible or unreliable. It bridges the communication gap, essentially making every part of the world reachable.
Examples
1. Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN): Inmarsat is a British satellite telecommunications company, which offers mobile services through a portfolio of portable and fixed satellite terminals. BGAN service, provided by Inmarsat, is an on-demand system used by the global broadcasting industry for television news and sports reports. It’s also used by small and large corporations, governments, and more, for secure data and voice connections in remote areas where a traditional infrastructure is non-existent or unreliable.2. Use in Humanitarian Aid Operations: Broadband Global Area Networks are often employed during humanitarian aid operations, such as natural disasters where local communication infrastructures are either too damaged or non-existent. For example, during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, BGAN systems were used to establish communications for emergency services when the local systems were down. 3. Remote Work and Education: Especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, BGAN has seen considerable use in enabling remote work and education. Workers and students in areas with poor or no internet services can use BGAN services to connect with their workplaces or schools, participate in video conferences, and access necessary online resources.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
Sure, here’s a FAQ about Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN).Q1: What is a Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN)?A1: Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) is a global satellite network with telecommunication capability nearly anywhere on the Earth, providing reliable voice and high-speed data connections.Q2: What kind of data speeds can BGAN provide?A2: BGAN offers data rates of up to 492 kbps as a standard service, but for higher applications, BGAN HDS can provide download speeds of up to 492 kbps and upload speeds of up to 384 kbps.Q3: Who operates the BGAN network?A3: The BGAN network is operated by Inmarsat, a British satellite telecommunications company that is one of the leading providers of global mobile satellite communications services.Q4: Which regions are covered by BGAN?A4: BGAN covers almost all parts of the world, except for the extreme polar regions. It provides coverage across 99% of the earth’s landmass.Q5: What kind of devices can be used with BGAN?A5: BGAN services can be accessed through a variety of small, lightweight satellite terminals, which are easy to carry and can be set up within minutes.Q6: Can BGAN be used in remote areas or at sea?A6: Yes, BGAN is especially suitable for use in locations where the telecommunications infrastructure is unreliable or nonexistent, including remote areas and at sea.Q7: Is BGAN connection secure?A7: Yes, BGAN provides secure and private communication links without reliance on local terrestrial infrastructure. It supports all major VPN products and encryption standards.Q8: What services does BGAN offer?A8: BGAN offers a wide range of services including high-speed internet access, email, voice calls, video conferencing, and other data applications like FTP transfers and remote corporate network access.Q9: How reliable is a BGAN connection?A9: Being reliant on satellites, BGAN has extremely high reliability. Although a BGAN connection can be affected by severe weather, such occurrences are rare.Q10: Can I use BGAN network for personal uses?A10: Yes, the BGAN services are available for both commercial and personal uses that support broadband internet on laptops and smartphones or any other standard IP applications.
Related Technology Terms
- Satellite Internet
- Inmarsat
- Broadband Internet
- Wireless Networks
- Global Telecommunications
