[Satellite TODAY 10-07-11] MSS operator Inmarsat has selected Hughes Network Systems to develop a new machine-to-machine (M2M) terminal for its BGAN service, the companies announced Oct. 6.

   Hughes recently released Inmarsat’s 9202 Class 2 Portable BGAN terminals. Hughes’ new contract will see the company develop the 9502 BGAN M2M terminal based on its current 9201-M2M platform. The BGAN M2M service delivered by the new terminal will offer an end-to-end IP data capability for real-time applications including smart metering, SCADA, monitoring and other infrastructure telemetry solutions, Inmarsat said.

   “We believe there is significant appetite in a number of markets globally for a low-cost stable platform to support short-burst data and the increased connectivity needed in fixed monitoring applications,” Inmarsat Director of Land Services Drew Brandy said in a statement. “A specific opportunity we will target is the smart grid initiative in the energy sector, with its requirement for data connectivity and information sharing across widely dispersed infrastructures. There are a number of other markets with a similar need for IP-based real-time cost-effective visibility across their operations”

   Inmarsat said it would launch the new service in the first quarter of 2012, targeting the utilities, oil and gas, and retail banking markets.