Inmarsat has confirmed the launch date for the first of its Global Xpress (GX) satellites; Inmarsat-5 F1 (I-5 F1). The satellite is scheduled to be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton Breeze M at 12.12 GMT on December 8.
Constructed by Boeing Satellite Systems International to a proven design, the new GX spacecraft is the first of three satellites scheduled to be launched on behalf of Inmarsat by ILS.
Rupert Pearce, CEO of Inmarsat, says: “Global Xpress is the result of three years of planning and, together with a fourth GX satellite we ordered recently from Boeing, represents an investment of USD 1.6 billion in our next generation of high bandwidth, high capacity, mobile broadband communications satellites. Global Xpress will ensure our satellite services fully support the current and future needs of end users across the world – whether on land, at sea or in the air.”
The GX fleet is on schedule to achieve full global coverage by the end of 2014. It will offer a combination of seamless global coverage from a single operator and consistent higher performance of up to 50Mbps to mobile or fixed terminals.
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