Voice over BGAN
NOTE : Users often ask for VoIP over BGAN, but what is usually wanted is multiple 2 or 4 wire voice services over IP. Vocality can offer VoIP and POTS over BGAN's IP service.
BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) is an satellite network solution operated by Inmarsat. The service utilises IP primarily as its connectivity method, with small field terminals manufactured by companies such as Thrane and Thrane and Hughes providing the user interface. All traffic within the Inmarsat network is landed at the Inmarsat Earth Station where is is connected to the public internet.
Whilst BGAN terminals offer a smart solution for email and internet access for field deployed users in hostile or remote locations, BGAN itself offers very little for the extension of corporate team communications services such as PABX connections, secure voice and corporate LAN connections. In addition, users that require low delay, low buffering data delivery similar to that of synchronous data - for crypto use or for the transport of secure voice need to explore the options available to turn a BGAN service into a mechanism for deploying reliable, steady data or tactical communications circuits.
BGAN operates in one of two modes : pay per packet 'contended' service is similar to home broadband, in that you share your bandwidth with a number of remote users - and no-one knows from second to second how much bandwidth you are going to receive. Whilst tests of 'Vocality over contended service' usually result in a satisfactory outcome, in a time of crisis or war, contended service could become very slow as multiple users contend for access to the same pool of bandwidth.
Streaming class, on the other hand, offers users the ability to have access to the satellite IP equivalent of a leased line - on a pay per minute basis. Available in bandwidth 'chunks', the streaming class service is available in rates of 32Kbps, 64Kbps and so on. Of course, this service comes at a premium price, so Vocality offers a range of compression and bandwidth optimisation capabilities to ensure maximum utilisation of the link bandwidth.
A typical BGAN terminal offers a basic, low data rate voice circuit for a single telephone. The unit also offers IP connectivity directly into the internet. Direct internet access is fine for email, surfing or FTP activities, but of course, when it comes to recreating a point to point link from the field unit to a corporate head office, the internet soon offers it's own challenges. Some users have access to managed QoS backhauls from Inmarsat back into their own facility ensuring full end to end QoS when using Streaming Class.
Vocality offers a range of multiplexer routers - all of which can connect over BGAN to take the basic functionality of a BGAN terminal and enhance it with multi-channel voice services, serial and IP : essentially converting it into a team solution.
For users with regular phones and regular call quality expectation, users can utilise multiple phone channels on the back of a field Vocality device such as a V25 or V50plus - maybe 4 or 5 phones - and users with high quality of service demands would utilise streaming class and achieve sufficient service for a much wider portfolio of services. The streaming class service would be recommended, for example, for use by Vocality systems which are equipped with Secure Voice Relay cards for the transparent, bandwidth efficient transmission of secure phone circuits such as STU IIB, STU III and STE phones.
Unlike terrestrial routers which have no interest in bandwidth optimisation, the Vocality devices are highly efficient when used over low bandwidth, high latency links such as satellite IP links.
The diagrams on this page show a rack mount hub unit and a field deployed hand portable unit. This final diagram shows how a large number of small field terminals can all connect directly into a single hub unit. In essence, in these networks, the Vocality units are connecting to each other using IP, and multiplexing voice and data services together - efficiently - and using the tunnel through the IP as a point to point leased line, for the duration of the calls.
A full system proposal based on your requirement can be prepared by one of Vocality's engineers, or a Vocality partner. Email sales@vocality.com for details.
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