What Satellite Technology Acronyms Really Mean for Your Business

The world of satellite technology is full of acronyms, and we know not everyone knows what they stand for or how they apply to your business or organization. So just what is the significance of this alphabet soup? Take a peek here to learn some satellite technology lingo and how that technology could enhance your day-to-day operations.

BGAN – Broadband Global Area Network

BGAN is a service that provides near-global communication coverage, even in remote locations. BGAN terminals allow access to your VPN (virtual private network) securely from areas where you would otherwise not have Internet access. You can make VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) calls and Standard Messaging System (SMS) messages through the same line of communication. You can also send and receive data in excess of 100 Kbps in both directions, transmit larger data files and interact with remote devices on an IP session. The service is easy to use and is accessed by a plug-and-play terminal designed to integrate seamlessly into your existing operations. And the best thing? Even if the acronyms are confusing, no expertise is needed to set up or use these devices.

How about practical applications, now? If you have employees working out in the field, BGAN technology gives them the capability to communicate with the home office, vendors and customers in real time from the most remote locations. Media organizations can use this technology to deliver live broadcasts and store and forward news clips. Emergency services can provide on-the-move communications for emergency response vehicles and command trailers using BGAN terminals. As you can see, the applications are endless.

VSAT – Very Small Aperture Terminal

VSAT technology is very similar to BGAN, except it provides much higher bandwidth. VSAT terminals can be in both fixed and mobile application, and terminals must be properly pointed toward the satellite to send and receive data. Most fixed terminals will require a technician for the initial setup, while mobile terminals use an auto-pointing system which allows for easy, push-of-a-button setup.

VSAT can be used in very similar ways to BGAN technology, where you may need wider bandwidth to transmit more data. Media organizations and emergency services can use VSAT as a higher-bandwidth option to BGAN for their mobile communication needs. The oil and gas industry can exchange crucial daily operational progress reports and collect data in the field using VSAT technology. If you need higher bandwidth, VSAT is the way to go.

SCADA – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

SCADA technology is a system used to gather and analyze data in real time. SCADA is an off network system that will not affect a company’s current network operations. SCADA systems can be used in simple applications, like monitoring the temperature of a building, to complex such as monitoring the activity of all the operations of a power plant. SCADA information can be sent through satellite communications to help monitor operations wherever they are. For the oil and gas industry, you can monitor and control a host platform that has been optimized for satellite communications. Using a SCADA system, you could gather information about operations on a pipeline. For instance, if there were a leak, you could determine where it happened and transfer the information back to a central site to alert the home station to the leak. Then you could do the analysis to see if you had a critical leak and send your proposed solution to the workers at the pipeline.

Obviously there are virtually limitless situations in which this technology can help your business or organization increase productivity, enhance safety and improve communication. Find out more by contacting New York Mobile Satellite today. Call us at 646-537-1724, or use the contact form on this site. We look forward to assisting you.

Our Satellite Technology Means Your Safety

Adventure. Industry. Business. Satellite technology is there to protect by providing consistent access to communication and internet technology, offering the ultimate safety net.

Satellite technology enables people to travel beyond the range of traditional cellular communication and still stay in contact. Whether you’re a solo adventurer hiking in remote mountains or sailing from the Caribbean to Canada, satellite technology can keep you connected with emergency services and home.

On Land

With our GPS and M2M systems, satellite technology is the perfect lifeline for the outdoor adventurer, especially if you like to travel alone. Mountain climbing can be a dangerous hobby, so you want to ensure that you are connected should you need to phone for help. Hikers can also benefit from this technology.

Lone workers in many industries can use satellite technology to ensure their safety. Some positions may require lone workers to travel long distances in remote locations, like when they must service power plants deep in the Australian outback or secure oil pipelines in the Middle East. The technology is ideal for relief workers in remote locations. Not only will these workers be connected with phone service, but there are applications designed to keep them safe by monitoring their location and allowing them to check in as part of safety protocol.

In the Air

Often when you’re flying, you can’t receive cellular reception through traditional means. Satellite technology enables you to stay in contact even while airborne. This technology is ideal for airplane pilots to use as a backup means for communication. While pilots do have communication with air traffic control during flight, should something happen with the communication capability on the plane, they would be able to use satellite communication in the event of an emergency.

Helicopter pilots can also benefit from this technology. Fueling a long helicopter flight can be a challenge, but with the help of satellite technology the members of the Three North Poles expedition were able to set up refueling stations to make it across 715 nautical miles of icy waters and remote, treacherous terrain.

At Sea

Sailors, yachting enthusiasts, sea kayakers, fishermen and others who spend significant amounts of time at sea can all ensure their safety by using satellite communications. Weather can change quickly out on the open ocean, so you want a means to track it in real time. Satellite technology can enable you to know what weather is coming your way so you can prepare for it.

Oceanographers, marine biologists and other scientists collecting data at sea can boost the productivity of their data collection and ensure communication by using satellite technology. E-mail, messaging, web access and file transfer via broadband Internet systems complete the suite of solutions to ensure further safety.

Protecting Animals

This technology isn’t only helping humans travel safely. Satellite technology is helping protect endangered species around the globe. Through a satellite monitoring system, combined with scientists’ manual data collection, scientists are able to monitor rare species and help combat poaching globally. This technology is beneficial to zoologists and conservationists, but can also be a great asset to the scientific community at large. Scientists in many fields have to collect large amounts of data in remote areas. Satellite technology can help aid in their personal safety and enhance their data collection experience.

Depending where you operate on land or at sea, you’ll likely encounter times when your travels take you outside of cellular services or the range of the 2-way radio network. For an additional safety net, New York Mobile Satellite offers satellite telephone systems in multiple formats: portable handhelds, in-vehicle fixed phones or docking kits and maritime phones for life at sea. If it’s push-to-talk radio that you require for dispatch operations, then we can extend the range of your 2-way radio network across your operating region, on a global basis. Our products also provide simple integration of satellite push-to-talk with your existing UHF/VHF radios, repeaters and dispatch console systems.

New York Mobile Satellite is also proud to introduce the first line of rapidly deployable satellite enabled self-contained cameras. These allow you to utilize our Broad Band Global Area Network (BGAN) and /or Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) or your existing network in order to enable direct and remove monitoring for rapid deployment for emergency response and safety scenarios.

There are literally millions of scenarios in which satellite technology can save lives, reduce injuries and even prevent catastrophes. Are you ready to protect your safety and the safety of your team while benefiting from constant communications with clients and loved ones? Contact us today at 646-537-1724. Or email us. Staying safe is worth it.

Satellite Phones Versus Traditional Cell Phones (and Why Satellite is Better for Your Business)

When you think of satellite phones, you may picture them in the hands of Doctors Without Borders in a steamy jungle or soldiers out in the desert. And while satellite phones are fantastic for people working in remote locations globally, they can also benefit anyone with the need for uninterrupted cellular service. There are many benefits satellite phones have over traditional cell phones, for individuals and businesses. 

Reliability and Mobility

Satellite phones can provide greater reliability than traditional cell phones, as they are not as vulnerable as cellular towers to disaster and swings in traffic. This means, if there is a disaster and cellular towers are down or congested from a large number of callers, satellite phones will still be operational and enable you to communicate with your team.

The equipment is easy to set up and handy to carry for workers and operations on the move. You will have a connection even in isolated areas if you have remote offices. This kind of mobility can come in very handy if you are taking a cruise, yachting in international waters or traveling by plane. Outdoor lovers hiking or camping in remote locations will have an additional safety net with satellite phones.

You and your team will have immediate communication service even in remote and rural areas to ensure everyone’s safety and security. You will be able to reach your customers and your vendors. Traditional cell phones rely on terrestrial towers and may not have service in the same remote regions. This is crucial for industries that have workers in typically inaccessible locations. Oil and gas rig crews are able to call their families with satellite where they may not be able to connect through traditional cell phones. Archaeologists are able to call in and even send videos of findings in real-time. The technology is truly amazing.

Cost and Communications Solutions

Some businesses, especially new, emerging or smaller businesses, may shy away from satellite options because they perceive with increased reliability comes increased cost, but satellite cost is actually quite comparable to traditional cellular plans. Additionally, satellite gives you consistent connection, a larger service area and peace of mind that just can’t compare with traditional cellular service.

Your customers and teammates won’t have to wait when you use satellite communication solutions. You will be instantly connected with light, easy-to-use solutions to maintain your business operations, even in places where your traditional cellular phone just doesn’t work.

And satellite solutions aren’t just limited to phone services. With satellite, you can email, page, access the web, text and transfer files with more reliability than traditional cellular networks. You can use satellite to communicate between the office and the field, or even field to field if your business requires it. 

Satellite Meets Cellular

If you’re still attached to your traditional cell phone, there’s a way for you to have the best of both worlds. With the Thuraya SatSleeve you can use your regular cell phone in areas where receiving a terrestrial based cellular signal would be impossible. This device pairs with your Samsung Galaxy or iPhone via Bluetooth and allows you tap into a satellite network that spans over 160 countries, so you can talk, text and use all your mobile apps wherever you travel.

While you as an industry professional and experienced cell phone user might not need to be sold on the idea of satellite technology, the newest phones come with options and customizations guaranteed to impress. Stay tuned to this blog for updates, and if you have any questions, be sure to contact New York Mobile Satellite. Call us at 646-537-1724, or send us an email.

New York Mobile Satellite LLC, veteran-owned, headquartered in New York City, provides B2B wireless and satellite based telecommunication services, both mobile and fixed, to commercial enterprises around the globe, including banking, financial services, oil and gas, first responders, law enforcement, electric and water utilities, construction, sea ports, leisure boating, mining, cruise lines, media, shipping and container vessels, transportation, camping and hiking groups, rescue organizations, maritime communications, public safety markets and government sector, as well as for disaster recovery and humanitarian agencies. The Management Team has over 75 years of satellite and telecommunication experience. The company’s flexibility to custom design solutions and integrate various satellite communications technologies for customer, and industry specific needs, sets us apart from the competition.