Remote holiday resorts benefit from satcom
UK based tour operator recognises potential for mobile broadband satellite phones
As solutions for Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) become further accepted among traditional users of satellite phones, the new user friendly pocket-sized satellite terminals start to attract new types of customers and new use. One such example is the tour operator market, where far flung destinations often suffer from poor communication links.
NSSL Ltd, a partner based in the UK, reports that its customer, a very large tour/holiday operator, UK based but with a local presence and holiday destinations around the globe, such as Cuba, Mexico and Indonesia, has recently agreed to take initially 4 Nera WorldPro satellite phones with broadband capabilities.
The WorldPro satellite terminals will have two main applications for the tour operator; communications in remote locations with poor telecommunications infrastructure and back up in case of major disaster such as Hurricanes, earth quakes etc.
The tour operator expects the WorldPro terminals to be used by holiday reps and holiday makers (customers) and in the worse case scenario by rescue authorities and customers’ families. There are several applications that will be used including E-mail, Data (pictures for brochures, medical records, files), voice calls and maybe even video conferencing. This functionality is a vast improvement over the GSM communication used previously.
“As an early adopter of Inmarsat BGAN technology in the travel sector, this tour operator is leading the way in utilising the most sophisticated satcoms technology available,” comments Scott McBride, Commercial and Channel Sales Manager, NSSL Ltd. “There are hundreds of holiday resorts/locations around the world and some already have good communication systems, but many do not. Other tour operators will, or should, follow suit with BGAN solutions when they see the benefits this new technology brings.”
Plans are being drawn up to roll out more WorldPro terminals across the tour operator’s sites at destinations around the world, having spotted the potential of BGAN satcom solutions for benefiting not just staff but customers also.