After the successful launch of the third Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellite in August 2008, we are taking the opportunity to optimise our network and the location of the three I-4 satellites in readiness to deliver a global service from 24 February 2009. The repositioning of the satellites will avoid any gaps in coverage and also enhance the quality of service to end-users.
Inmarsat is also required to position two of the I-4 satellites within sight of its new Satellite Access Station (SAS) in Hawaii, which is necessary to comply with US regulatory requirements and to avoid interference with other satellite systems operating across mainland North America.
This will provide global coverage for Inmarsat's broadband services - BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband.
The repositioning of the I-4 satellites begins when the new I-4 Americas satellite enters commercial service over North and South America at 98 degrees West from 09:00 UTC on 7 January 2009.
Shortly afterwards, we will begin to move the I-4 F2 satellite at 53 degrees West to a new location at 25 degrees East. When this satellite re-enters service on 6 February 2009, we will begin the final move, repositioning the I-4 F1 satellite at 64 degrees East, to re-enter service at its new in-orbit location at 143.5 degrees East on 24 February 2009.
Inmarsat reserves the right to change the repositioning timetable at any time.
BGAN users will benefit immediately from enhanced quality of service offered by the I-4 Americas satellite, which is positioned more directly over the continents. Also, for the first time, network coverage will be extended to include parts of Western Canada and Alaska.
There will be a short outage that will take place within a window lasting for about one hour, starting from 08:00 UTC on 7 January 2009, for users of our BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband services, while the traffic is transferred from the Inmarsat-4 F2 satellite at 53 degrees West to the new I-4 Americas satellite at 98 degrees West.
At the end of the outage users of BGAN in the region will need to re-point their terminals at the I-4 Americas satellite located at 98 degrees West to pick up the new signal.
Users of FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband need take no action as their antennas will locate and track the new satellite automatically.
BGAN users can download a new version of BGAN LaunchPad provided by Inmarsat to help with the pointing of terminals.
Broadband services delivered via the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) F1 and F2 satellites, including BGAN, FleetBroadband, and SwiftBroadband, will undergo two separate service outages. The first outage will take place in the Eastern Atlantic, Iceland, Ireland and parts of West Africa, the UK and Greenland; and the second outage in parts of the Asia-Pacific region.
Satellite phone services delivered via the I-4 satellites, including IsatPhone, LandPhone and FleetPhone, will undergo a single service outage in parts of the Asia-Pacific region.
Inmarsat-3 spot beam services in the Atlantic Ocean Region West (AOR-W) - namely Fleet, Mini M, GAN, Swift 64, Aero I and Aero Mini M - will undergo a small but ongoing reduction in the geographic area covered by the spot beams.
We will be moving two I-4 satellites, one at a time. For safety reasons each I-4 satellite must be switched off prior to repositioning. This will leave a temporary gap in coverage in a limited geographical area until the satellite recommences service in its new in-orbit location. As a result, there will be two separate outages in different parts of the world while we move each satellite.
No, maritime or aeronautical safety service will be not be affected by the repositioning, apart from a 30-minute outage while these services are transferred to an Inmarsat-3 satellite in the Atlantic Ocean Region West (AOR-W) on 7 January 2009.
| Outage period | Service | Areas |
|---|---|---|
| 7 January - 6 February 2009* |
BGAN | Iceland, Ireland and parts of West Africa, the UK and Greenland. |
| FleetBroadband SwiftBroadband |
Atlantic strip | |
| 6 - 24 February 2009 |
BGAN FleetBroadband SwiftBroadband IsatPhone LandPhone FleetPhone |
Parts of Asia-Pacific |
Timetable subject to change at Inmarsat's discretion.
*NB End of outage originally scheduled for 2 February has been extended by four days.
First outage
Second outage
BGAN users will need to re-point their antennas at the new satellite in-orbit locations.
BGAN users can download a new version of BGAN LaunchPad provided by Inmarsat to help with the pointing of terminals.
| Time and date to re-point antenna | New satellite location | Areas |
|---|---|---|
| 7 January 2009 | I-4 Americas at 98 West | Users in North and South America |
| 16.00 UTC 6 February 2009* |
I-4 EMEA at 25 East | Users in Iceland, Ireland and parts of West Africa, the UK and Greenland |
| 16.00 UTC 6 February 2009 |
I-4 Americas at 98 West | Users in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including Asia, India and Myanmar |
| 18.00 UTC 24 February 2009 |
I-4 Asia-Pacific at 143 East | Users in the rest of Asia-Pacific |
Timetable subject to change at Inmarsat's discretion.
*NB End of outage originally scheduled for 2 February has been extended by four days.
FleetBroadBand, SwiftBroadBand, and vehicular BGAN antennas track the satellite automatically. No re-pointing is necessary.
However, some BGAN and FleetBroadband users may need to update their terminal's firmware. If in doubt, please contact your service provider to discuss whether the terminal requires a software update.
Yes. There are already new versions of BGAN LaunchPad and FleetBroadBand LaunchPad showing the change in coverage. These can be downloaded from the Inmarsat website.
Yes. There will be a service outage in parts of the Asia-Pacific region while the Inmarsat-4 F1 satellite is repositioned, from 6 to 24 February 2009
No. There will be no change to the geographical coverage provided by the IsatPhone, LandPhone and FleetPhone services.
However, after repositioning, these services will be offered over two Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellites, as opposed to just the one I-4 satellite previously.
Users of the IsatPhone service will need to point their phone antenna directly at the satellite in its new in-orbit location to obtain the best possible signal before making or receiving a call.
Users of the LandPhone service may need to relocate their antenna. The line of sight between the antenna and the I-4 satellite(s) in their new in-orbit location(s) after repositioning may be obstructed by blockages such as mountains, trees or buildings.
Users of the FleetPhone service are not affected and need take no action. The antenna automatically tracks the satellite, or if two I-4 satellites are in view, it will lock on to the one providing the strongest signal.
| Time and date to re-point antenna | New satellite location | Areas |
|---|---|---|
| 08.00 UTC 6 February 2009 |
I-4 EMEA at 25 East | Africa, Italy, Middle East, Central Asia, India and Myanmar |
| 18.00 UTC 24 February 2009 |
I-4 Asia-Pacific at 143 East | The rest of Asia-Pacific |
No. The Channel numbers remain unchanged at: 38, 48, 49 and 88.
However, the pattern of spot beams will alter after repositioning and therefore the Channel number in any given location may be different from before.
If you need to set the Channel number manually, please consult the new Channel Number Map to find the Channel number for your location.
No. Repositioning will create three new satellite regions, called:
Yes, you can download the map from the Support section of the Inmarsat website.