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Inmarsat M was introduced to complement the existing global services with a vessel satcom that would provided voice as well as fax and data, albeit at 2.4 Kbit/s for fax and data versus 9.6 Kbit/s for Inmarsat A and B. The marine M versions can be obtained with antennas one third the weight and size of the A and B and at an equipment cost reduced by approximately half. This system is suitable for installation on vessels in the range of 70 feet and larger and is used on many very large cargo vessels complemented by an Inmarsat C to meet their GMDSS requirement. A small portable system was introduced the end of 1995, called Compact-M that weighed in at 5.5 pounds. |
