Inmarsat has selected Airbus as its satellite manufacturing partner as part of a development of its Global Xpress (GX) network.
Under the agreement, Inmarsat has bought three new spacecraft to augment its Global Xpress system, in which Airbus will build the satellites - to provide connectivity to on-the-move and out-of-the-way users, such as those on ships, planes and oil rigs.
The partnership will provide a step-change in GX’s capabilities, capacity and agility for the benefit of existing and future Inmarsat customers, partners and investors.
This contract with Airbus is for the manufacture of three next-generation GX satellites (GX7, 8 & 9), with the first scheduled to launch in H1 2023.
This new satellite programme will transform Inmarsat’s global network, the company says, providing agility in space segment deployment, as well as an enhanced ability to adopt and integrate future technology innovation and disruption to the GX product line.
The new GX technology will be compatible with existing terminals, allowing Inmarsat customers to benefit from this and future service enhancements. Through regular upgrades by Inmarsat to the GX network capabilities and features, customers will be able to take advantage of future technology innovation.
Rupert Pearce, chief executive officer, Inmarsat said: “On its launch in 2010, Global Xpress revolutionised satellite telecommunications and, even in 2019, GX remains the world’s only truly seamless global mobile broadband network. As such, I am delighted today to announce the next steps in GX’s development, in partnership with Airbus, which will ensure that our customers continue to benefit from GX’s ground-breaking technology and capabilities for many years to come.
“Worldwide demand for mobile broadband connectivity has grown exponentially in recent years and we expect this trend to continue. This next phase in the evolution of our GX network provides a dynamic and powerful answer to the challenges created by this growth in demand, building on the strong foundations we have already established.
“Significantly, our new approach in collaboration with Airbus and other technology partners will provide us with much greater velocity and agility with which to respond to future competitive challenges and to adopt new technologies on a highly dynamic, rolling basis.