Beam signs agreement with MCN

Beam Communications has entered into an agreement with Beijing Marine Communications & Navigation Company (MCN) for the supply of an initial US$1m of Inmarsat marine terminals.

This initial order follows the successful trial of the terminals at MCN in July 2012 deploying 200 Oceana 400 and Oceana 800 marine satellite communications terminals on fishing vessels in China, using the Inmarsat FleetPhone Service.

The terminals were specifically designed and manufactured by Beam to support the voice, data and tracking communications that take place over the Inmarsat satellite network via its Fleetphone maritime service. These terminals were launched to the global market in late 2011 to specifically target high-volume deployments in emerging satellite markets.

“MCN is very pleased to be entering this contract with Beam for an additional commitment of US$1m of Beam Oceana terminals following the successful trial with our customers and channel partners in China. There are many thousands of fishing vessels in China that have a need for high-quality and reliable satellite communications along with land-based applications in smaller villages. MCN will be targeting these key land and maritime customers with an aggressive campaign to promote exclusively the Beam products and we are anticipating this to be very successful, and therefore would anticipate placing additional orders with Beam in the coming months,” said Yumin Zhao, director at MCN.

Delivery of the initial order will commence this quarter and be completed by 31 May 2013. At that time MCN will be required to make further commitments to Beam in order to maintain its exclusive right for distribution of the Beam product in China.