How is Inmarsat performing on the data front?
In terms of data as a percentage of revenue, Inmarsat is the largest mobile data operator in the world. The mobile data increased from 56 percent to 63 percent in 2003. What services does Inmarsat offer? What are the future plans? Our first step was to provide mobile data opportunity and the second step was to provide higher-speed access. In the beginning of 2003, Inmarsat launched 144 kbps services (regional BGAN) covering about 100 countries, including the west coast of Africa, Nepal, continental Europe, and Russia. Michael Storey The second step was to provide higher-speed access. For all this, we are investing around $1.6 billion in a new fleet of satellites (BGAN service). These will achieve speeds in the range of 500 kbps. The first of these satellites will be launched by the end of this year. The service will be focused on areas where terrestrial fixed or mobile services do not exist or are not capable of providing high-bandwidth applications. How will you provide Regional BGAN
