Inmarsat to showcase the real-life applications for Global Xpress in Asia Pacific

Inmarsat will showcase its latest technologies and services, including the real-life applications of Global Xpress (GX) in Asia Pacific and the plans for its next-generation Inmarsat-6 constellation at CommunicAsia 2016 on 31^st May to 3^rd June in Singapore.

“The demand for truly reliable, high-speed mobile broadband is rising rapidly throughout the Asia Pacific region and across all the key markets served by Inmarsat, from maritime and aviation to energy, media and government,” said Michele Franci, Chief Technology Officer, Inmarsat.

“With our unique Global Xpress high-speed broadband service now available worldwide for users on land, sea and air, Inmarsat is in the perfect position to meet this growing demand.  We are working closely with our network of value added resellers throughout the region and there is a lot of customer excitement that a truly global, truly reliable and seamless high-speed broadband service – delivered through a single network by a single operator – is available today.

“We are also seeing demand for Global Xpress extending to new sectors, which have not traditionally deployed satellite communications.  To support our partners and customers, Inmarsat has been strengthening its presence across the region, with new offices now open in Singapore and Beijing and new premises in Tokyo by the end of June.”

Delegates to the four-day event in Singapore will also have the opportunity to visit Inmarsat’s booth (1S2-01) to hear the latest updates and learn more about its broad range of products and services, including:

• IsatPhone 2: Inmarsat’s new-generation handheld satellite phone, which ensures that users can stay connected and safe in the most extreme and remote locations. IsatPhone 2 features a robust handset, unrivalled battery life, tracking and emergency alert functionality, outstanding voice quality and the high reliability for which Inmarsat is renowned.

• IsatHub: Designed for remote locations, the IsatHub enables the use of smartphones, tablets and other connected devices to seamlessly talk, text, access the internet and use apps, independent of cellular and fixed networks.

• Cobham’s Explorer 5075GX: A rugged and portable auto-acquire Fly-Away system configured specifically for operation on the Inmarsat GX network. The terminal is configured for commercial Ka-band operations and includes a fully integrated iDirect Core Module. The user-friendly design allows operators with little satellite experience to access GX services within minutes, anywhere around the globe.

• BGAN HNS9211: Manufactured by Hughes Network Systems, is designed to provide high performance mobile satellite connectivity, even in the most demanding environments. The Hughes 9211-HDR is the world’s smallest and lightest Inmarsat BGAN HDR-capable terminal.

• Fleet Media: An innovative maritime entertainment solution, which uses Inmarsat’s satellite connectivity to download the latest in Hollywood movies, international films, sports and TV shows to merchant vessels anywhere in the world. Fleet Media provides crew members with access to hundreds of hours of on-demand content which can be watched on a laptop, computer or an iOS or Android smart device via Wi-Fi or physical network connection.

• L-TAC: A robust, low-cost beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) mobile communications for a broad range of government users. It delivers a ‘UHF and VHF-like’ tactical satellite capability for use with existing military and commercial off-the-shelf radios by approved government customers.

• FleetBroadband 150: FleetBroadband 150 (FB150) is Inmarsat’s entry-level addition to the FleetBroadband family. It delivers global voice, IP data up to 150kbps and SMS texting.

• BGAN E540: The versatile and durable BGAN M2M terminal, EXPLORER 540, is the world’s first Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication terminal that can operate on both Inmarsat BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) and 2G/3G/LTE networks.

• Fleet Xpress: Fleet Xpress takes maritime communications to the next level, delivering the high data speeds enabled by Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band technology combined with the proven reliability of Inmarsat’s flagship FleetBroadband L-band service.

• SwiftBroadband-Safety: Developed specifically for the flight deck, SwiftBroadband-Safety is the next generation of aviation safety service, delivering high-speed secure and reliable IP-based broadband capability vital to the pilot, airline and air traffic control. SwiftBroadband-Safety delivers a new world of applications such as enhanced global flight tracking, faster message delivery, graphical weather, electronic flight bag and security safeguards.

The future of Global Xpress

Global Xpress (GX) achieved commercial service introduction (CSI) in December 2015, making Inmarsat the first company in the world to offer a globally available, high-speed mobile broadband satellite communications seamlessly and securely, on land, at sea, and in the air from a single operator.

As part of Inmarsat’s US$1.6 billion programme commitment, a fourth GX satellite (I-5 F4) is on track to be launched in the second half of 2016 to provide additional GX capacity.

Shortly after the confirmation of CSI, Inmarsat highlighted its long-term commitment to delivering L-band services with the announcement that Airbus will build the first two satellites in its sixth generation, Inmarsat-6 constellation. Inmarsat-6 satellites will combine both L-band and Ka-band frequencies, which will have the capabilities to support a new generation of advanced satellite services, further extending the breadth and depth of Global Xpress.

During the course of 2016, Inmarsat will continue to introduce market-specific, high-speed connectivity services powered by Global Xpress.

Inmarsat’s Open Platform

In support of the next wave of mobile satellite technology and applications, Inmarsat is harnessing a culture of innovation by opening up its platforms to developers to create new ideas that will change the way satellite communicates are implemented across  the land, air and sea.

The second annual Inmarsat Developer Conference (IDC 16) was held in London early this year, bringing together a range of partners, third party developers all in one place.

Attendees learned about the development opportunities in three key areas:

• Sustainable fishing: Opportunity for developers to design new smart applications to meet the commercial, regulatory and personal welfare requirements of fishermen and fishing fleets
• Digital transformation: Connectivity is the foundation for efficiency while utilising cloud, mobile solutions, big data and analytics can improve operations, return on investment and provide a competitive edge
• Machine-to-machine (M2M): The Internet of Things (IoT) has rapidly evolved and today both mobile and fixed assets require one and two-way connectivity between themselves and other assets

Delegates can also find out more about Inmarsat’s open platform and involvement with the third-party developer community during CommunicAsia 2016.