CNN relies on BGAN for war coverage

CNN used BGAN satellite terminals to file hundreds of live video reports during the war between Israeli armed forces and Hezbollah in Lebanon earlier this year.

BGAN is a high-speed satellite network providing data rates of up to 492kb/s from about 85 percent of the world’s land mass. Using a small, lightweight BGAN terminal, and sufficient compression, journalists in the field can file live video reports or upload edited packages.

According to Tony Maddox, senior vice president of news operations for CNN International, the network had more than 100 journalists in the combat zone, and BGAN “was key for getting the news out to the rest of the world.”

New York-based BGAN service provider GCS and Inmarsat distribution partner FTMSC provided CNN with terminals and BGAN service packages.

For more information, visit www.inmarsat.com.