Vsnl Launches Global Mobile Phone Through Inmarsat

Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) is offering the global mobile communications service in the country jointly with Inmarsat, the international maritime satellite organisation of 79 nations.

Using the land earth station at Arvi near Pune, which was commissioned after upgrading last month, VSNL is offering the global mobile communication to Indians from anywhere anytime through Inmarsat satellites.

The service named Mini M specifically designed to meet the requirement of land mobile users was launched here on Tuesday. The service, which is based on the innovative `spot beam technology(SBT), is being made available through the new generation Inmarsat-3 satellites.

Inmarsat regional director Bashir Patel said SBT allowed the network to focus its resources upon the world land mass. He said since 90 per cent of the globe was still inaccessible to telecommunications, the Mini-M service would be handy for people on the move to far-off places, he added.

 

Unlike the heavy satellite phones, the Inmarsat Mini-M phone weighing just 2 kg and with the size of a note book PC, was an ideal portable set for globe-trotters and mobile teams. It provided voice, data and fax services, Patel said.

VSNL chief general manager D K Nimal, said the Mini-M service would be beneficial for chief executive officers of multinationals, global companies, defence forces and for humanitarian operations.

As an instant communication medium, the terminal-based instrument will be an ideal link for the transport and the chemicals sector, Nimal said.

Including the battery back-up, Mini-M set would cost Rs 2.5 lakh in India, while tariff with SIM (subscriber identity module) card would be $2.7 per minute and $2.9 per minute without SIM card.

The 18-year old satellite conglomerate had about 100,000 subscribers the world over, and the number was expected to touch 2.5 million by the end of the millennium in view of the immense potential being anticipated in developing nations in Asia-Pacific such as China, India, and Latin America.