Teenager
Takes Inmarsat BGAN on Conquest of Everest
A 15-year-old Australian boy has become the first
person to use Inmarsat's pioneering BGAN service from
the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest. Christopher
Harris is climbing Everest with his father and a small
team of adults and is aiming to become the youngest
person ever to complete this physical feat.
They are currently completing the acclimatization process,
climbing to 7,500 metres at the North Col, before making
an attempt at the summit before the end of May.
The team is using Inmarsat BGAN's seamless mobile broadband
coverage to send back images, words and video footage
using a Hughes Network Systems 9201 terminal.
Christopher's father Richard and another climber, Michael
Dillon, received training on the equipment to enable
them to send their expedition reports.
Marketing manager Diana Minglis said: "They were
absolutely amazed at how easy it is to use the equipment
- and equally amazed at how light-weight the terminal
is." Chief executive Todd McDonell heard about
Christopher through a network he belongs to and was
very impressed with the teenager's drive.
Diana said: "We originally had a meeting late
in 2004 with Christopher, his dad and a photographer,
Michael Dillon, and got around to discussing Christopher's
upcoming attempt to climb Everest planned for May 2005.
"We decided that we would be willing to become
the communications sponsor of this attempt. However,
following the Indian Ocean tsunami, Christopher called
off the attempt feeling that our corporate dollars would
be better spent on the tsunami relief effort."
The climb was rescheduled earlier this year and Christopher
re-approached the company again to see if it was still
interested in sponsorship.
Inmarsat said the timing was fortuitous because BGAN
had just been launched and would offer a much lighter,
quicker, easier way for him to transmit information
from the trek.
Diana said: "We researched Christopher's requirements
and provided the entire kit he would need to ensure
effective communication capabilities from the peak.
"This complete solution included a Toughbook PC,
solar panels, phone handset, BGAN terminal and back-up
GAN terminal."
All the equipment and airtime has been provided free
of charge. Christopher set off for the trek in April.
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Archives: (2005 ) / (2006)
 28 November 2006
Inmarsat to Relay First
Inflight Mobille Calls in
January 2007
28 November 2006
Inmarsat Plays Key Role
In Rescue of Velux 5
Yachtsman
23 October 2006
First SwiftBroadband Traffic
Sent From Gulfstream Jet
9 October 2006
Top News Channel
CNN Praises Inmarsat
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27 September 2006
Inmarsat Wins Award for
Best Universal Service
Offering
31
August 2006
European Airline Embarks
on Inmarsat Based
Cellphone Calling
30 August 2006
Inmarsat
BGAN Supports
Phase One Relief in Lebanon
18
August 2006
Norwegian Aid Team
Utilizes
Inmarsat
BGAN
for Landmine Clearance
15 August 2006
Greenland Explorer Praises
Inmarsat
BGAN During
Climate Study
8 August 2006
International Rescue
Committee Utilizes Inmarsat
BGAN for Relief Links
20
July 2006
Mobile
phones prepare for
take-off on Airbus with
Inmarsat
Swiftbroadband
19
July 2006
Kon-tiki
Replica Arrives
Safely in Polynesia Using
Inmarsat Fleet F77
12
July 2006
Telefónica
Extends BGAN
Distribution Across Globe
11
July 2006
TCP
Accelerator Doubles
BGAN E-mail Speed
4
June 2006
Opening
of Kenya Centre
Fulfills Africa Maritime
Rescue Gap
30
May 2006
Inmarsat
BGAN Utilized
in Aftermath of
Java Earthquake
26
May 2006
Inmarsat
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Saves Fisherman
24
May 2006
Inmarsat
BGAN Relays
Reports from Everest Team
23
May 2006
Inmarsat
Supports
Surinam Flood Relief
17
May 2006
Inmarsat
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World Cup Fever
17
May 2006
Inmarsat
BGAN Chosen
by Teenager on
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15
May 2006
Inmarsat
BGAN Goes
Global Across the Americas
10
May 2006
Inmarsat
RBGAN Supports Disabled Mountaineers
28
April 2006
Inmarsat
F77 Selected by South Africa Navy
28
April 2006
Inmarsat
RBGAN Provides Photos of Africa
Charity Work
21
April 2006
Inmarsat
BGAN Utilized in Greenland Climate Study
6
April 2006
Inmarsat
BGAN Poised for Launch Across North
& South America
17
March 2006
Canada
Boosts Inmarsat Support for Army & Navy
13
March 2006
Lightning
Strike Drama as Volvo Yachts Reach Brazil
13
March 2006
Inmarsat
Keeps Mudslide Rescue Teams Online
13
March 2006
Inmarsat
Extends Lifeline to Niger's Migrant Workers
6
March 2006
Volvo
Yachts On-Course After Mid-Ocean Drama
3
March 2006
Showtime
for Inmarsat
BGAN as it Prepares
To Go Global
21
February 2006
BBC
Reports From Mudslide Disaster Via Inmarsat BGAN
20
February 2006
HNS-9201
BGAN
Terminal Gains Inmarsat
Type Approval
23
January 2006
Inmarsat's
Final Milestone
for BGAN Expansion in
the Americas
16
January 2006
Inmarsat
A Completes
Satellite Switch in AOR-W |
