Anyone that has usedvideo conferencing services over Inmarsat realizes it's expensive. This article does not cover Inmarsat video streaming solutions specifically developed for broadcast qualitymedia. Instead, the article focuseson practical videoconferencing.

Budget sensitive Inmarsat video solutions thatkeep usage costs under tight control are available.

History of Inmarsat Video

During the early years of the Iraq War which started in 2003, Outfitter Satellite offered videoconferencingequipment like the Talking Head 2. Itused the ISDN 64 kbps data supplied by anInmarsat GAN terminal like theThrane and Thrane Capsat Messenger. The combined cost of this hardware was around $16,000. The 64 kbps GAN data cost users around $7 per minute.

The video quality of the Talking Head 2 was poor. If the news reporter transmitting the story kept their head still and there weren't any largemoving objects in the back scene, the quality was decent. If a large object moved across the screen behind them, the video compression algorithm simply couldn't keep up and everything became a blur.

In 2010, Inmarsat BGAN or Broadband Global Area Network was launched. Small portable BGAN terminals offeredStandard IP data speeds up to 492 kbps. Specialized ISDN-based products like the Talking Head 2 were no longer necessary. In fact, software-based solutions using a Windows PC or Macintosh computer could be used. The BGAN hardware cost was typically around $3000.

In addition to Standard IP data, Streaming IP data witha minimum Quality of Service or QoS is also available. Various streaming speeds include 128 kbps, 176 kbps, 256 kbps, 384 kbps X-stream and High Data Rate HDR up to 800 kbps. Theseservices arebilled by the minute of connection time and arevery expensive.

At your home or office, you probably pay aflat monthly fee for unlimited internet access soSkype is a great videoconferencing solution.YouTube or Skypecan be used to stream Inmarsat video but it is anexpensive choice. Skype was designed to maximize sound and video quality by using as much bandwidth as is available. Aclass II BGAN terminal, like theCobham EXPLORER 510, provides typical data speeds of about 350 kbps(2.5 MB per minute). Inmarsat video conferencing at 350 kbps using a $6.95/MB rate costs$1042 per hour.

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*Note: Any prices listed here were accurate as of the time of the first publication of this blog article. Prices, terms, and conditions are subject to change without notice.