Inmarsat to deploy next-generation ground infrastructure to support growing aviation passenger Wi-Fi services, maritime services and land users across Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Herndon, VA, July 16, 2018 – VT iDirect, a company of VT Systems, announced today that Inmarsat (LON: ISAT), the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, has awarded the ground infrastructure contract for Inmarsat’s fifth Global Xpress (GX-5) high-speed, broadband communications satellite to VT iDirect.
The iDirect Velocity® platform and iQ Series remotes support Inmarsat in delivering the high-speed broadband capabilities of GX-5 at a very low cost per bit. Inmarsat terminals will also be able to seamlessly switch between existing GX capacity and new GX-5 capacity. The agreement builds on a long-standing partnership and reflects Inmarsat’s strategy of adding capacity to its already established, unique, mobile global broadband network, supported by the iDirect Velocity platform, to meet growing customer demand.
VT iDirect’s next-generation technology enables interoperability between DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X which not only drives improved efficiencies but also delivers more Mbps directly to the aircraft or maritime vessel. This, combined with VT iDirect’s unique seamless beam switching and mobility feature set, powers Inmarsat’s state-of-the-art, uninterrupted, global connectivity service.
“VT iDirect’s partnership with Inmarsat focuses on bringing the latest development in high throughput satellite capacity to market, and we are honored to be chosen as the ground infrastructure provider for GX-5,” said Stephen Tunnicliffe, Vice President and General Manager, Global Service Provider Group, VT iDirect. “We are leading the next wave of innovation in mobility markets, enabling commercial airlines, maritime operators and mobility service providers in gaining a critical performance advantage to meet escalating customer demands.”
“With our partnership with VT iDirect and our game-changing network, Inmarsat will continue to empower airline and vessel passengers to experience onboard connectivity comparable to the mobile broadband services they receive on the ground,” said Jerome Soumagne, Vice President, Network Development at Inmarsat.
GX-5 is targeted for launch in 2019 and scheduled to enter commercial service in Q2 2020.
Inmarsat’s cabin Internet solutions have more than 1,300 commercial aircraft expected under signed contract. GX Aviation has been selected as the Inflight Connectivity (IFC) for a wide range of airlines across the world including Lufthansa Group, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, AirAsia Group, Avianca and Norwegian Air Shuttle. It is also the leading choice for business aviation aircraft.