Aerospace Defence Security Space

Inmarsat and ThinKom agree development plan for Global Xpress terminals

Posted 16 September 2014

Inmarsat is beginning the second phase of Global Xpress terminal development for the government and enterprise markets around the world through the signing today of a Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) with ThinKom Solutions (ThinKom).

ThinKom is a leading provider of innovative, affordable, compact broadband antenna and product solutions for comms-on-the-move (COTM) applications. Its primary products uniquely enable near-term worldwide availability of affordable high data rate connectivity for the consumer, enterprise and public sector organisations including military, intelligence, civilian and public safety communities. Inmarsat and ThinKom will jointly assess market opportunities for the development of COTM terminals for use over Inmarsat’s game-changing, high-throughput Global Xpress satellite network.

“More than ever before, users depend on the ability to leverage data-intensive applications in the field that require reliable, seamless and interoperable connections to deliver a successful mission, anywhere around the world,” said David Schoen, vice president of Inmarsat’s Product and Network Innovations. “We are delighted to announce the partnership with ThinKom, to explore opportunities to enhance the Global Xpress offering. This is an important milestone on the path toward full roll-out and global availability of the Global Xpress network.”

Mark Silk, ThinKom’s CEO, said: “We value Inmarsat’s partnership and look forward to exploiting the unique advantages of our ultra-low-profile, phased array technology for the Global Xpress network. ThinKom’s next generation Ka-band COTM terminals bring true world-wide broadband capability to government and enterprise users, with a smaller form-factor and higher efficiency than is otherwise available on the market today.”

COTM is planned as the second phase in Inmarsat’s development strategy to deliver enhanced Global Xpress service capabilities.

The first of three Inmarsat-5 satellites was successfully launched in December 2013 and entered commercial service on 1st July 2014.

The partnership with ThinKom is one in a series of second phase Global Xpress manufacturing partner relationships which Inmarsat expects to be announcing over the coming months.