Insight | Six essential qualities of Global Xpress

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Six essential qualities of Global Xpress

Government

Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch, Inmarsat’s SVP, Government Strategy & Policy, U. S. Government Business Unit, discusses the game-changing qualities of Global Xpress, the first and only commercial high-throughput network that spans the globe, through one operator.

Inmarsat’s history of commitment to safety services drives our global mobility-centric strategy, unique in the market. Users can benefit from uniform, global coverage using Inmarsat systems. Our new Global Xpress service, the first and only end-to-end high-throughput commercial Ka-band network that spans the world through one operator, is a natural progression of this strategy.

We have purpose built Global Xpress from the ground up with government users in mind. U.S. government-tested and in operation today, Global Xpress complements government military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) and delivers a highly reliable Ka-band network that meets mobile, on-demand communication needs, worldwide.

So why is this important? Allow me to use this blog to present you with six essential qualities of Global Xpress that make it the ideal choice for mobile government users, anywhere, anytime.

  1. Global Xpress is global and available today. It is the first and only end-to-end commercial wideband network from a single operator that is available worldwide. Unlike systems delivered by regional operators that piece local networks together for worldwide availability, Inmarsat brings the benefits of seamless and consistent access to the U.S. government to meet mobile, interoperable communication needs, on demand, and at an affordable price.
  2. Global Xpress provides uniform power to assure consistent, uninterrupted connectivity. Today’s highly mobile, worldwide users need capability that connects them, anytime, anywhere. To achieve this. The Global Xpress Ka-band network takes advantage of a seamless spot beam architecture for maximum mobility. When there are demand surges, Global Xpress directs its spot beams to provide additional capacity. In fact, when Global Xpress is complemented by Inmarsat L-band services in a hybrid format, users benefit from even greater resilience and frequency diversity.
  3. Global Xpress enables augmentation of MILSATCOM anywhere, anytime. Government users access and control Global Xpress wideband capacity with terminals that are fully compatible with MILSATCOM systems, such as Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS). Global Xpress high capacity beams are completely open system architecture, allowing users to integrate any waveform or terrestrial network. Users have the option to field specific technology and equipment in Global Xpress’ secure enclaves built at Inmarsat’s Satellite Access Station (SAS) locations in NATO and Five-Eye nations. Whether they are on the ground, in the air or at sea, these users steer capacity anywhere in the world to augment WGS coverage, getting the throughput, availability, security and resiliency for mission success and fiscal responsibility.
  4. Inmarsat provides Global Xpress as an end-to-end managed service everywhere. For those users who prefer satellite as a service, Global Xpress SATCOM as a Service enables access on demand to satellite capability worldwide. With no infrastructure CAPEX or ongoing OPEX, customers with a subscription can travel from one location to another, and simply “connect” to get what they need, when they need it. Thanks to solid service level agreements with committed information rates (CIR), there are no surprises with respect to the quality of what is acquired. Global Xpress delivers guaranteed data rates to satisfy mission requirements at a moment’s notice – meaning customers acquire a minimum performance standard as opposed to traditional “up to” data rates that are rarely delivered.
  5. Global Xpress delivers cost and performance efficiencies. Global Xpress is the only worldwide commercial satellite network that augments the government’s military satellite communication Ka-band systems. This allows government users to supplement their capacity through a commercial service while still using existing WGS-certified terminals. It also helps government agencies be more efficient with their budget spend, while better supporting their end-users by filling capacity gaps where WGS coverage is limited or unavailable. By delivering SATCOM capability in a holistic, managed service model, we attain an optimal state of efficiency and functionality – while saving government resources.
  6. Global Xpress is flexible and responsive to user requirements. As the U.S. government seeks to adopt an enterprise-level, integrated architecture to fulfil their requirements and enhance flexibility of operations, users have at least two options to get access to multiple systems in military and commercial bands. They can take advantage of the Global Xpress managed mobility service – SATCOM as a Service – globally. As well, they can access Mil-Ka leased capacity as part of their own independent network to fill in any gaps for optimal protection, resilience, scalability and global portability. Thus, users benefit from the most flexible and immediately available technologies in times of the greatest need. Clearly, this level of flexibility is ideally suited for the type of business model the government is exploring – a model that delivers efficiencies, responsiveness and worldwide access to reliable SATCOM at a moment’s notice.
At sea with USS George Washington (CVN 73) Nov. 21, 2003 — The Military Sealift Command ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) conducts a refueling at sea and vertical replenishment at sea with the guided missile cruiser USS Mahan (CG 72). The ships are conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate Airman Konstandinos Goumenidis. (RELEASED)

At Inmarsat, we have a legacy of excellence and set the highest standards. Inmarsat has maintained the highest levels of trust with the U.S. government since the company’s inception, and our investments into interoperable satellite systems and partnerships demonstrate our continued commitment to provide highly reliable, flexible global SATCOM solutions specifically intended to address current and future government requirements. That is why military/government users trust our services. No matter where the mission takes them, they know they will always be able to connect to  Inmarsat, which provides secure, reliable, resilient and robust commercial SATCOM capability – and can focus on mission success.

About the author


Rebecca M. Cowen-Hirsch is Inmarsat Senior Vice President for Government Strategy and Policy in the United States Government (USG) Business Unit, based in Washington. Ms. Cowen-Hirsch brings 25 years of defense, aerospace, and executive leadership experience to Inmarsat. As a decorated member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) in the U.S. Department of Defense, she served as the Program Executive Officer for SATCOM, Teleport and Services at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and in several key SES executive positions including the first Vice Component Acquisition Executive for DISA, with executive management responsibility for the acquisition oversight and horizontal integration of DISA’s products, services, and programs. Ms Cowen-Hirsch established the Defense Spectrum Office, serving as its first Director where her responsibilities included the development of national security spectrum strategic plans and policy, and national and international negotiation of defense spectrum issues. Her broad defense career ranged from systems engineering, experimental flight test, program management, spectrum management, and a wide range of executive leadership positions. Ms. Cowen-Hirsch was a rated experimental flight test engineer; was the first female civilian Mission Commander for the Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA) mission, and was the recipient of an Exemplary Service Medal for her years of selfless service to the Department of Defense. Ms Cowen-Hirsch has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering, conducted post-graduate studies in Engineering Management, and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Space Institute Experimental Flight Test Program; the DoD’s Acquisition Management Program; and the Cambridge Senior Executive Leadership Program.