Repositioning of the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) Satellite

SCHEDULED OUTAGE NOTIFICATION
 
Following the successful launch of its third I-4 satellite on 18 August 2008, Inmarsat will be repositioning its satellites in order to optimise the network and prepare for the introduction of global I-4 coverage.

Repositioning of the I-4 satellites will begin when the new I-4 F3 satellite enters service on 7 January 2009 at 98 degrees West, covering the Americas.
 
While Inmarsat is making every effort to minimise any impact on customers, the repositioning will require two service outages affecting a small number of broadband and satellite phone service users in two limited geographical areas.
 
The schedule of outages is as follows:

I-4 F2: 7 January - 2 February 2009

BGAN - in Iceland, Ireland and parts of West Africa, the UK and Greenland

FleetBroadband - in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean

SwiftBroadband - in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean

I-4 F1: 6 - 24 February 2009 

 
Service outage in parts of Asia-Pacific for:
BGAN, FleetBroadband, SwiftBroadband, and IsatPhone, LandPhone, and FleetPhone.
 
Full global coverage will be introduced at the end of the repositioning process, on 24 February 2009.
 
Users of BGAN, IsatPhone and LandPhone services will need to point their antennas to the new satellite location after repositioning of each satellite has been completed.
 
Older BGAN terminals may also need an upgrade. Contact GMPCS Personal Communications with questions.

FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband terminals should re-point automatically to the satellite in its new location. However, some FleetBroadband terminals may require user intervention or software
upgrades.  Again, end-users should contact their equipment supplier if unsure.
 

Users of LaunchPad should ensure they have installed the most up-to-date version. Distribution partners and service providers are requested to contact end-users likely to be affected by the planned service outages, and to provide them with relevant information and support.