Satellite communications provider NewSat, a division of Multiemedia (ASX:MUL), has completed a trial with the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) of a portable satellite broadband system for Austrade's offices around the world.

The concept involves the development of a portable communications equipment kit which can be rapidly deployed to supply access to secure communications. Named 'Post in a Box' (PIAB), the kit is designed to be shipped anywhere around the globe providing Austrade users with fast and reliable broadband capabilities in any location.

'Post in a Box' is comprised of a folding satellite dish which when connected, links the portable post directly to Austrade's Canberra office which houses a permanent satellite dish. The 'Post in a Box,' which has been specially developed for Austrade, takes around 20 minutes to assemble and removes the need for a landline communications link.

The satellite coverage extends from Moscow South to Johannesburg, and East to encompass all of Australia as well as North and South East Asia. This allows the 'Post in a Box' kit to be positioned anywhere within this area, and achieve rapid connection to the rest of the Austrade network. Testing of the 'Post in a Box' kit involved trialling it in South East Asia and the Middle East during June and July this year.

According to Ian Bennett, manager IT platform operations for Austrade, the satellite link proved to be very stable and provided equal, or in some cases superior, communications speed and bandwidth compared to existing post links. "Not only data, such as e-mails and web access, is supported, but also voice and even videoconferencing was tested. The dish is weatherproof and withstood torrential rainstorms in South East Asia followed by 50 degree heat in the Middle East," Bennett said.

'Post in a Box' is also designed to be used in places where Austrade does not have a permanent presence, such as at major trade events or offsite events where communications and access to IT communications are limited. The successful test has led to Austrade purchasing a second self-contained 'Post in a Box' unit with further enhancements to the system to increase coverage and functionality.