Stratos to launch BGAN service in Japan

Stratos Global has expanded its partnership with Japan Digital Communications (JDC) to introduce the Inmarsat BGAN mobile satellite service to the Japanese market.

The two companies have jointly announced that they have obtained a license from the Japanese government to provide the BGAN service on Japanese soil.

BGAN is now available from Stratos and JDC in South Japan. The service will be available throughout the country upon the launch of the third I-4 communications satellite, for which Inmarsat is seeking a 2008 launch. .

Since Inmarsat's official introduction of its BGAN service in December 2005, the service has been available to Japanese customers from Stratos and JDC, but only for use outside Japan.