ITU, Inmarsat To Provide Rural Service

The International Telecommunication Union is partnering with London-based Inmarsat to promote rural telecommunication and support emergency communications in developing countries. Inmarsat will make a 105,000 euro ($109,500) contribution toward the purchase of 15 Global Area Network satellite terminals in those countries.

Inmarsat GAN terminals are powered by lithium-ion batteries and include built-in base stations that allow up to 12 cordless phones to be connected to form local cordless phone networks. In addition to the external line, up to five handsets can be used simultaneously for free-of-charge internal calling.