Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Space
  • /
  • Cobham and Inmarsat to deliver L-band ground infrastructure

Space

Cobham and Inmarsat to deliver L-band ground infrastructure

Cobham SATCOM has announced an agreement with Inmarsat that covers development and supply of new generation L-band radio access network ground segment systems for Inmarsat’s I-6 satellites – underpinning the L-band ground infrastructure for I-6 – currently set for first launch in 2020.


Courtesy Cobham

Cobham SATCOM’s next generation radio access network (RAN) leverages scalable technologies to deliver a more flexible, digital system, enabling Inmarsat customers to keep pace with market requirements.

The I-6 satellite network is set to be the world’s most advanced L-band satellite constellation. The network will extend Inmarsat’s market-leading L-band BGAN offering, delivering additional capacity while enabling future capabilities from advanced global safety services and low cost mobile solutions, to Internet of Things (IoT) applications and beyond.

Advertisement
ODU RT

This initiative continues a 30-year plus partnership between Cobham SATCOM and Inmarsat extending across land, maritime, space, and aviation. In addition to producing market-leading user terminals in all categories, Cobham SATCOM has developed and maintained the L-band radio access network and constructed Inmarsat Land Earth Stations in 17 countries since 1990.

Paul Kahn, President of Communications and Connectivity at Cobham, commented: “This next chapter in our partnership with Inmarsat builds upon our track record of mutual success and strengthens Cobham SATCOM’s position as a global market leader in satellite ground infrastructure. Both Cobham and Inmarsat share the vision and mission of improving connectivity for users and their devices everywhere. By ensuring global availability of reliable safety services we can help save hundreds of lives every year.”

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

Peter Hadinger, CTO, Inmarsat, said: “Inmarsat-6 extends Inmarsat’s commitment to our L-band customers through the 2030s and allows us to expand the capabilities of this unique communications architecture to new and improved services. Securing the highest performing and most innovative hardware for Inmarsat-6 has been a critical focus for us and we are pleased that the evaluation showed that our long-term partner Cobham SATCOM could meet our rigorous specifications and continue to provide us with a sustainable competitive advantage.”

Advertisement
ECS leaderboard banner
SSTL joins Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System’s Lazuli

Space

SSTL joins Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System’s Lazuli

9 March 2026

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) today announced its role as a key industrial collaborator in the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System’s Lazuli, a pioneering initiative that will deliver one of the most ambitious privately funded space telescopes ever conceived.

UK space tech startups target debris, wildfires and climate risk

Security Space

UK space tech startups target debris, wildfires and climate risk

9 March 2026

Six UK space tech startups have joined the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre UK (ESA BIC UK) to develop technologies that deliver practical benefits in space and on Earth, applying space technology to some of today’s most urgent challenges, from clearing space junk to detecting wildfires in seconds.

UK National Microgravity Research Centre opens in Swansea

Space

UK National Microgravity Research Centre opens in Swansea

9 March 2026

The UK’s first National Microgravity Research Centre has been completed at Swansea University, marking the successful delivery of a £13 million project part-funded by the UK Space Agency.

Collaboration to support in-orbit pharmaceuticals manufacturing

Space

Collaboration to support in-orbit pharmaceuticals manufacturing

5 March 2026

The UK Space Agency, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are working collaboratively to provide a supportive regulatory environment to space, biopharma and pharmaceutical ...

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle
UK funding aimed at £40bn satellite communications market

Space

UK funding aimed at £40bn satellite communications market

5 March 2026

British companies developing satellite communications technology are to receive £30 million in government funding, Space Minister Liz Lloyd announced yesterday, as the UK looks to secure a larger share of a global market worth £40 billion.

Mutable Tactics secures Seraphim Space led funding

Defence Space

Mutable Tactics secures Seraphim Space led funding

4 March 2026

British robotics autonomy company, Mutable Tactics, has closed a pre seed funding round of $2.1 million led by Seraphim Space, with support from the UK’s National Security Strategic Investment Fund, Koro, Entrepreneurs First and Transpose.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner