Studio Press

Nera Malaysia has launched the world's smallest and lightest mobile broadband satellite terminal in Malaysia. Nera Malaysia is linked to its Norway-based parent company that specialises in marketing telecommunication products to companies in the energy, technology and banking industries. According to Nera Malaysia's managing director Ahmad Fauzan Hashim, the company is targeting to sell 1,000 units of the broadband equipment which offers both voice communications and data services suitable for remote and disaster-affected areas. "Malaysia is the fourth country in Asia after Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines to have launched the product," he said during the launch of the broadband equipment called Nera WorldPro 1000. Nera Telecommunications Ltd (Asia)'s executive vice president of satellite communications, Dr Tan Hong Pew, said the Nera WorldPro 1000 could be used in almost any part of the world. "By 2007, it will have complete global coverage when the network reaches the Pacific Ocean," he said. The Nera WorldPro 1,000 set-up equipment is retailed at RM12,000 per set. "We are targeting to bundle with a telecommunications provider in a month's time for network integration," Tan said. According to him, the Nera WorldPro 1000 international calls rates are relatively cheaper than most other mobile lines. "It will cost about US$1 per minute for roaming charges as compared to the market rate of about US$2 to US$3 per minute," he said. The Nera WorldPro 1000 uses an antenna unit that homes in on the new Inmarsat 1-4 satellite. This gives the Nera WorldPro 1000 almost worldwide usability, receiving at 384 kilobits per second and transmitting at 240 kilobits per second. These rates are similar to terrestrial broadband and five to six times better than the existing mobile satellite services, the company said.- BERNAMA