Singapore, 14 May 2007 – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) and Addvalue Communications Pte Ltd (Addvalue) today announced their collaboration to jointly promote and market a cost effective, satellite-based Business Continuity Plan (BCP) communications package.
Targeted at corporate customers, the BCP package aims to provide a quick operational recovery to businesses in the event of a disruption caused by any disaster or emergency.
Attractively priced at US$99.90 per month, the portable BCP package uses Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN), which is a satellite solution that enables voice and broadband communications in regions without adequate communications infrastructure.
“Singtel’s BGAN should be a critical component of any BCP,” said Mr Titus Yong, Head of Singtel’s Satellite. “With this package, which includes links to corporate networks and end-to-end solutions offered by Singtel, corporations can set up a broadband mobile office easily and reliably in remote locations or in situations where normal communications infrastructure breaks down, for instance due to disasters, without a hefty upfront cost.”
Users of BGAN services operate through SABRE 1TM, a lightweight 1.65 kg terminal designed and supplied by Addvalue, a subsidiary of Addvalue Technologies Ltd. BGAN offers access to about 85 per cent of the world’s land mass. As communication between BGAN terminals is direct and relies solely on satellite technology, it does not depend on any existing infrastructure like telephone networks and submarine cables.
Addvalue is the only BGAN satellite terminal supplier in Asia and one of only three authorised suppliers in the world. Its SABRE 1TM is the world’s first satellite BGAN terminal designed in Asia. Addvalue is also the first Singapore-based company chosen by Inmarsat, the global satellite operator, of which Singtel was a founding member and distribution partner, to design and build these user terminals. To date, Addvalue has secured orders of about US$4 million for SABRE 1TM.
With SABRE 1TM, Singtel’s BGAN service offers simultaneous phone and mobile data communications at up to 384 kbps for Internet access, mobile multimedia and a host of other advanced applications. It is suitable for use in a wide range of industries such as corporate/finance services, media and communications, construction, oil and gas/energy, military and aeronautical sectors.
Plans are underway to explore bundling of Singtel’s BGAN airtime with Addvalue’s customised BGAN solution for the maritime industry.
Mr Yong said: “We believe that our cost effective BCP solution is timely. It will be welcomed by corporations concerned with uninterrupted business operations and communications during a crisis. This is an important growth market and we see the long-term value of our collaboration with Addvalue.”
Dr Colin Chan, Chairman and CEO of Addvalue, added: “Singtel’s experience in the development, marketing, distribution and direct sale of Inmarsat communications services for commercial and government clients are complementary to Addvalue’s growth strategy for Asia and its satellite design capabilities. With our strategic tie-up with Singtel, we have a ready market for our proprietary satellite communications products.”
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About Broadband Global Area Network
Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network service (BGAN) is an all-in-one mobile communications solution that offers voice and broadband data connectivity through a truly portable terminal. It provides standard IP connectivity at up to 492kbps, guaranteed data rates of up to 256kbps and circuit-switched voice telephony at cell phone quality.
Easy to carry and quick to deploy, BGAN can deliver connectivity in areas where the terrestrial network is unreliable, disrupted or non-existent. It can deliver secure and on-demand access to telephony, email, the internet, VPNs, file transfer, and videoconferencing for individual mobile users or multiple simultaneous users in a mobile office. As an IP-based service, it supports a broad range of applications and encryption technologies.
BGAN is accessed via the Inmarsat-4 network of satellites, which provide coverage to 85 per cent of the world's landmass. To date, the service has been used in more than 175 countries.
About Singtel
Singtel is Asia's leading communications group with operations and investments around the world. Serving both the corporate and consumer markets, it is committed to bringing the best of global communications to customers in the Asia Pacific and beyond.
With significant operations in Singapore and Australia (through wholly-owned subsidiary Singtel Optus), the Group provides a comprehensive portfolio of services that include voice and data services over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms.
To serve the needs of multi-national corporations, Singtel has a network of 37 offices in 19 countries and territories throughout Asia Pacific,Europe and the United States. These offices enable Singtel to deliver reliable and quality network solutions to its customers, either on its own or jointly with local partners.
The Group also has major investments in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Together with its regional partners, Singtel is Asia’s largest multi-market mobile operator, serving more than 124 million customers in seven markets.
Singtel employs more than 19,000 people worldwide and had a turnover of S$13.15 billion (US$8.40 billion) and net profit after tax of S$3.78 billion (US$2.42 billion) for the year ended 31 March 2007. More information can be found @ www.singtel.com and www.optus.com.au.
About Addvalue
Addvalue Technologies Ltd, established in Singapore since 1994, is a leading one-stop digital, wireless and broadband communications technology products innovator, which provides comprehensive satellite communication solutions, tracking and telemetry communication solutions and digital wireless design services. Its customers include internationally-renowned communications leaders such as Microsoft, Panasonic, GE Thomson, Sirius Satellite Radio, Telenor and Inmarsat. Addvalue Technologies Ltd is listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange (symbol: addvaltech). More information can be found @ www.addvaluetech.com.
