[Satellite TODAY 03-27-13] Hughes Network Systems and Inmarsat have announced their Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) machine-to-machine (M2M) terminal has successfully completed testing by Met Laboratories (MetLabs), an OSHA Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. The Hughes 9502, a global-use terminal designed and manufactured by Hughes for operation over Inmarsat’s BGAN has been certified for operation in hazardous locations where explosive gaseous atmospheres may potentially be present, such as those classified as Class 1, Division 2, Groups A-D, and ATEX Zone 2, Group II, Category 3.
 

    The terminal promises to deliver affordable, end-to-end IP data connectivity for industry sectors such as environmental monitoring, weather, tsunami warning systems, seismic data collection, utility smart grid applications, pipeline monitoring, well site automation, IP-camera surveillance, and satellite back-up for terrestrial fixed or wireless primary site communications.
 

    "Hughes’ latest Class 1, Division 2 BGAN M2M terminal is an exciting addition to our M2M portfolio and will play a significant role in supporting global energy customers who operate SCADA networks in hazardous environments,” Gerbrand Schalkwijk, vice president, enterprise energy, Inmarsat, said on a statement. 
 

    Inmarsat also announced Zedi, an oil and gas technology and services company in the field of production operations, confirmed it is placing orders for the newly accredited Hughes BGAN M2M terminal.