* Astronomy

Inmarsat has announced the successful launch of its Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN). The company unveiled the new service to the world in a joint press briefing with representatives of its Distribution Partners and manufacturers at its London HQ on December 7.

Six years in development, 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 November 8, network coverage will be extended to North and South America from Q2, 2006.
The two I-4 satellites will deliver seamless broadband coverage across 85 per cent of the world's landmass and be available to 98 per cent of the world's population.

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