01 June 2004
Doha, June 1st 2004: Inmarsat, the Total Communications Network(tm), announced today at the Arab Telecom and Internet Forum (ATIF) the results of an opinion survey directed at media houses in the region. Inmarsat spoke with leading regional satellite TV and print media, to investigate how such organizations are using technology, in particular mobile satellite communications, to enhance their business performance and international competitiveness.
At the ATIF conference, Inmarsat revealed that in today's evolving media climate, consumers demand up-to-the minute, multi-media news coverage from remote locations.
"The changing media landscape has put increased pressure on media organizations, particularly broadcast houses, to deliver the news as it happens," said Samer Halawi, regional director, Inmarsat Middle East and Africa.
"The challenge today is to get pictures, voice, and articles out, fast and accurately, from wherever the news is breaking, be it a city under siege or a community in crisis. And with the world's eyes focused on our region, a high proportion of news is made up of Middle East content," he added.
"The objective of our opinion survey was to identify what role regional media play in delivery of this content and how innovative technology can help them compete against the global players," said Halawi.
The individuals surveyed revealed that Inmarsat's reliable, high speed mobile data solutions are crucial for the delivery of news before their competitors. In fact an overwhelming majority of respondents believed that mobile satellite communications technology enables them to file stories before their competitors, thereby increasing their competitive advantage.
Inmarsat's cost effective, on demand solutions offer the flexibility and mobility essential for the reporting of news, where it happens and when it happens. The Regional Broadband Global Area Network (Regional BGAN) allows media to transfer up to the minute information from remote locations. Along with Regional BGAN, the broadcast media continues to rely on Inmarsat GAN (Global Area Network), to deliver news, live, at the forefront, in areas of high public interest. When television viewers see 'via videophone' on a correspondent's live report, the station is using Inmarsat GAN to transmit from the field.
This means that voice, text and video can be transmitted from mobile satellite units about the size of a PC that can travel as hand luggage, increasing the media's ability to get to the news as the stories are breaking, regardless of location. And because both services are on demand, as opposed to pre-booked, the media have the flexibility they need to report the news as it happens.
The opinion survey also revealed how a combination of strong regional presence and immediate access to the news allows regional broadcasters to compete on the global media stage. Five years ago, Abu Dhabi TV (ADTV) considered its competitors to be local and regional players.
Abdel Majid Othman Mohammed, Technical Director, ADTV commented: "Our competition has changed significantly over the last few years. In fact, during the Iraq war we were used as a resource by international players such as CNN and BBC."
Today, Inmarsat's Regional BGAN and GAN solutions have enabled the station to not only be used as a resource by international players, but compete with them also. During the Iraq conflict, an overwhelming number of channels relied on two regional stations - ADTV and Al Jazeera, both of which use mobile satellite communications technology from Inmarsat.
"The media's investment in mobile satellite communications technology has resulted in the delivery of news coverage direct from the front line, from regional players with in-depth understanding of the Middle East. On the whole this contributes to a more accurate world view of the Middle East," explained Halawi.
"We applaud and congratulate the regional media for their outstanding success, both in terms of business performance and social responsibility. In fact, we would encourage all businesses around the region to look to this success and use the media as a model to increase their competitive edge and business performance," he added.
-Ends-
About Inmarsat Limited
Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include: general economic and business conditions; changes in technology; timing or delay in signing, commencement, implementation and performance of programmes, or the delivery of products or services under them; structural change in the satellite industry; relationships with customers; competition; and ability to attract personnel. You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances
Joanne Kubba,
Account Manager
Impact Porter Novelli
Emirates Towers,
16th Floor
P.O.Box 19791,
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Tel: +9714 330 4030 ext. 405
Fax: +9714 330 4031
Mobile: +971 50 655 6710
Email: j.kubba@ipn.ae
Doha, June 1st 2004: Inmarsat, the Total Communications Network(tm), announced today at the Arab Telecom and Internet Forum (ATIF) the results of an opinion survey directed at media houses in the region. Inmarsat spoke with leading regional satellite TV and print media, to investigate how such organizations are using technology, in particular mobile satellite communications, to enhance their business performance and international competitiveness.
At the ATIF conference, Inmarsat revealed that in today's evolving media climate, consumers demand up-to-the minute, multi-media news coverage from remote locations.
"The changing media landscape has put increased pressure on media organizations, particularly broadcast houses, to deliver the news as it happens," said Samer Halawi, regional director, Inmarsat Middle East and Africa.
"The challenge today is to get pictures, voice, and articles out, fast and accurately, from wherever the news is breaking, be it a city under siege or a community in crisis. And with the world's eyes focused on our region, a high proportion of news is made up of Middle East content," he added.
"The objective of our opinion survey was to identify what role regional media play in delivery of this content and how innovative technology can help them compete against the global players," said Halawi.
The individuals surveyed revealed that Inmarsat's reliable, high speed mobile data solutions are crucial for the delivery of news before their competitors. In fact an overwhelming majority of respondents believed that mobile satellite communications technology enables them to file stories before their competitors, thereby increasing their competitive advantage.
Inmarsat's cost effective, on demand solutions offer the flexibility and mobility essential for the reporting of news, where it happens and when it happens. The Regional Broadband Global Area Network (Regional BGAN) allows media to transfer up to the minute information from remote locations. Along with Regional BGAN, the broadcast media continues to rely on Inmarsat GAN (Global Area Network), to deliver news, live, at the forefront, in areas of high public interest. When television viewers see 'via videophone' on a correspondent's live report, the station is using Inmarsat GAN to transmit from the field.
This means that voice, text and video can be transmitted from mobile satellite units about the size of a PC that can travel as hand luggage, increasing the media's ability to get to the news as the stories are breaking, regardless of location. And because both services are on demand, as opposed to pre-booked, the media have the flexibility they need to report the news as it happens.
The opinion survey also revealed how a combination of strong regional presence and immediate access to the news allows regional broadcasters to compete on the global media stage. Five years ago, Abu Dhabi TV (ADTV) considered its competitors to be local and regional players.
Abdel Majid Othman Mohammed, Technical Director, ADTV commented: "Our competition has changed significantly over the last few years. In fact, during the Iraq war we were used as a resource by international players such as CNN and BBC."
Today, Inmarsat's Regional BGAN and GAN solutions have enabled the station to not only be used as a resource by international players, but compete with them also. During the Iraq conflict, an overwhelming number of channels relied on two regional stations - ADTV and Al Jazeera, both of which use mobile satellite communications technology from Inmarsat.
"The media's investment in mobile satellite communications technology has resulted in the delivery of news coverage direct from the front line, from regional players with in-depth understanding of the Middle East. On the whole this contributes to a more accurate world view of the Middle East," explained Halawi.
"We applaud and congratulate the regional media for their outstanding success, both in terms of business performance and social responsibility. In fact, we would encourage all businesses around the region to look to this success and use the media as a model to increase their competitive edge and business performance," he added.
-Ends-
About Inmarsat Limited
- Inmarsat Ltd owns and operates a unique global mobile satellite network and delivers its communications solutions through a worldwide network of approximately 400 distributors and service providers to end users in the maritime, land and aeronautical sectors in approximately 170 countries.
- Inmarsat Ltd has a portfolio of mobile satellite solutions, including voice, fax, intranet and Internet access and other data services.
- Inmarsat Ltd has more than 24 years of experience in designing, implementing and operating satellite networks.
- At the end of March 2004, approximately 300,000 terminals were registered to access Inmarsat Ltd's services.
- Inmarsat Ltd is also supported by partners in the fields of equipment manufacture, software provision and systems integration.
- Inmarsat Ltd is a subsidiary of Inmarsat Ventures Ltd.
- Inmarsat is the exclusive global partner of the FIA World Rally Championship.
- Visit www.inmarsat.com
Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include: general economic and business conditions; changes in technology; timing or delay in signing, commencement, implementation and performance of programmes, or the delivery of products or services under them; structural change in the satellite industry; relationships with customers; competition; and ability to attract personnel. You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances
Joanne Kubba,
Account Manager
Impact Porter Novelli
Emirates Towers,
16th Floor
P.O.Box 19791,
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Tel: +9714 330 4030 ext. 405
Fax: +9714 330 4031
Mobile: +971 50 655 6710
Email: j.kubba@ipn.ae
© Press Release 2004
