UK-based communications firm eyes business with RP miners

MANILA, Philippines - A United Kingdom-based global mobile satellite communications company hopes to attract the growing number of mining firms to avail of its services as it expands to the Philippines. Inmarsat PLC, along with its distribution partner Vizada, will bring in broadband global area network (BGAN) service to provide high-speed and high-quality voice and data connectivity in remote areas. "We just spoke to a number of mining companies, about ten. More than half of them, we believe, are very much interested in our service. We are confident to see some take-off," Inmarsat account manager for Vizada Noemie de Rozieres told reporters on Wednesday. Inmarsat and Vizada noted that Philippine mining companies are still in the exploratory stage and that their services are ideal for the firms. Vizada area manager Vivian Quenet said mining teams would need the light-weight yet efficient communications system which could relay data to off-site experts which they offer. “Inmarsat solves the issue with its BGAN technology, providing the capability to send data to and from any location in the world. We complete this service with our Vizada Solutions, including secure and reliable interconnections delivering data through our own infrastructure," Quenet said. The BGAN product is sold anywhere from $2,500 to as much as $7,000, while subscription fees for the network start at $110 a month. - GMANews.TV