LONDON (Alliance News) - Inmarsat PLC said Monday that its first Inmarsat-5 Global Xpress satellite has achieved commercial service introduction, beginning with United States Government customers within the satellite's Indian Ocean Region coverage area.
The achievement comes after extensive satellite and end-user tests, said the company, with US government customers becoming the first users, "global coverage and military satellite communications interoperability makes Global Xpress an ideal complementary solution for government users," said Peter Hadinger, President of the US Government Business Unit.
The government users now have the ability to efficiently extend wideband coverage, increase their capacity and enhance resiliency without investment in additional satellites, said the global mobile satellite communications services company.
Since its launch last December, the first GX satellite and its supporting ground network and terminal infrastructure have been undergoing extensive tests, said Inmarsat. Evaluations with US Government customers were woven into Inmarsat's own testing of Global Xpress commercial capabilities.
Inmarsat said it expected to move the Global Xpress system to full global operations in the first-half of next year and that it has partners in place to introduce GX products and services spanning the Maritime, Enterprise, Energy, Aviation and Government markets worldwide.
Shares in Inmarsat were trading marginally higher Monday morning, up 0.20% at 762 pence per share.
By Alice Attwood; aliceattwood@alliancenews.com; @AliceAtAlliance
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