Maritime Communications Services Pte Ltd ('MCS') has been officially appointed an Inmarsat Service Provider (ISP) with effect from November 2001.

About Inmarsat Service Provider (ISP)

An Inmarsat Service Provider (ISP) is any entity or organisation that establishes a commercial agreement with one or more Inmarsat Land Earth Station Operators (LESOs) to provide Inmarsat services.

A LESO validates and accepts the commercial and business risk in appointing an ISP. The actual contract with the LESO and the ISP is proprietary.

An ISP provides Inmarsat services to customers by promoting, advising, selling, maintaining and billing for the services offered. Since an ISP is participating with an LES(s) in providing on-going services, their focus is not merely selling Inmarsat MESs or SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards, but promoting traffic generation and utilisation. ISPs require an investment and infrastructure commitment to achieve this.

ISPs may provide services for Inmarsat-A, B, C, D, M, Inmarsat-Phone, Global Area Network (GAN) and SIM cards. However, these may vary depending on the contract agreed with the LESO. Also, there is no restrictions on ISPs for all land mobile users of Inmarsat-A, B, C, M, D, GAN, Inmarsat-phone terminal and SIM cards.

ISP is allowed to provide service to all Inmarsat Maritime Customers. However, this is subject to national law, especially if the MES is approved for Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). A terminal that is going to be used for distress and safety purposes must have global access for search and rescue purposes. A terminal under the responsibility of the ISP will have limited access since it will only be able to access the LES/LESs that have a contract with the ISP.

The maritime authorities' concern hinges on two issues:

1. Although Inmarsat-M and Inmarsat-Phone terminals are not approved for GMDSS, they can be used to send and receive distress and safety messages, and
2. In time of distress, the crew will use whatever means of communications on hand, regardless of the status of the terminal vis a vis ISPs.

With four-ocean region cover, the majority of the LESOs should be able to respond to the concerns of the maritime authorities on distress and safety regardless of restricted access. However, there are still some LESOs that do not offer global cover, and until this is resolved, the maritime authorities may continue to regulate the use of ISPs on maritime installations. To avoid any confusion and delay, the ISPs are advised to check the national requirements with the Point of Service Activation (PSA).

Where ISPs have been allowed by the maritime authorities to provide services only to non-GMDSS installations, the ISP should require its customer to declare on the Service Activation Registration Form (SARF) that the terminal shall not be used for any distress and safety purposes. In this case, the ISP must ensure that the SARF has been signed by the customer. If the ISP is applying on behalf of the customer, that is, the SARF does not contain the name of the customer, the ISP is advised to obtain a written declaration from the customer. However, the ISP should note that whoever is named in Electronic Service Activation System (ESAS) as the owner of the MES (be it the real owner or the application was done under the ISP's name) shall be held accountable to the maritime authorities.