- Global Xpress network to be extended, delivering the world’s first and only high-speed mobile broadband capacity for mobility segments in the Arctic region.
- New Arctic Global Xpress payloads enable transformation of Fleet Xpress for the merchant shipping, offshore, cruise and fishing sectors, along with GX7, 8 & 9.
- Fully compatible with current and planned Fleet Xpress network and user terminals.
- Further milestone in success-driven Fleet Xpress roadmap.
The world leader in global mobile satellite communications Inmarsat, is set to introduce two new satellite payloads dedicated to the Arctic region in a partnership with Space Norway, and its subsidiary Space Norway HEOSAT, says a press release published on their website.
How does GX payloads support?
The new Global Xpress (GX) payloads support the rapidly growing demand among both commercial and government users for
- seamless,
- reliable,
- high-speed
mobile broadband services in the Arctic and throughout the world.
They mainly address the rising demand for high-speed mobile broadband Fleet Xpress service capability from the merchant shipping, cruise and fishing sectors, where high-speed broadband connectivity is driving both major operational and efficiency improvements and supporting the introduction of new business models.
Working of GX Arctic payloads
Inmarsat’s new Arctic capabilities will further increase network flexibility and efficiency through multi-beam, high-throughput capacity that can be fully dialled up and down depending on customer demand in the region.
Today, the Arctic Circle represents a rapidly growing connectivity region for high-quality mobile broadband with increasing requirements from government, maritime and aviation customers.
Building on Inmarsat’s current capabilities up to and beyond 75o North, the new GX Arctic payloads will improve network performance in very high latitudes by flying directly overhead, providing GX antennas with much higher elevation angles to optimise throughput.
Arctic offshore exploration
High-speed connectivity will be vital to make best use of Arctic offshore exploration and production opportunities as oil prices recover.
Melting sea ice is also attracting merchant ships to the shorter east-west transit times available via remote northerly routes.
Full production from new north east Russian gas facilities contributed strongly to a record 18 million tons of cargo moving over the Northern Sea Route in 2018, according to Russian Ministry of Transport figures.
In addition, a growing number of merchant ships and cruise ships have transited the Northwest Passage, connecting Asia and the East Coast of North America via Arctic seas without incident.
Fish stocks and quotas
Climate change is also shifting major fish stocks north, with overfishing in traditional grounds driving vessels to spend more time in the Arctic Circle.
The trend demands reliable Arctic connectivity for operational reasons but also to support the vessel monitoring that ensures fishing quotas are upheld.
Fishing banned
In February, the EU and nine nations signed an international treaty banning fishing across 2.8 million km2 of central high Arctic waters.
High-value expedition ship market
Meanwhile, the high-value expedition ship market is one of the fastest growing parts of the cruise industry, with 41 smaller exploration ships due delivery between 2019 and 2023*.
Success-driven Fleet Xpress milestone
Today’s announcement comes less than a month after Inmarsat’s decision to invest in three new GX satellites (GX7, 8 & 9) to be built by Airbus Defence & Space.
These will deliver a transformational change in the global capabilities, capacity and agility of Fleet Xpress for the benefit of current and future Inmarsat customers, partners and investors.
Who will operate the Arctic satellites?
The Arctic region satellites will be operated by Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ABSM) team.
Inmarsat is the only commercial partner to be included as part of Space Norway’s ABSM satellites, which will be built by Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.
Where will the GX Arctic payloads be placed?
The new GX Arctic payloads (GX10A & 10B) will be placed into Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEO), ensuring continuous coverage above 65º North and will have the ability to direct capacity in real-time to the areas of highest demand.
They represent the world’s first and only mobile broadband payload dedicated to the Arctic region and will integrate seamlessly into the current and planned Fleet Xpress service network.
The additional payloads, scheduled to launch in 2022, will be fully compatible with current and future Fleet Xpress terminals, ensuring that current maritime, offshore and fishing customers can benefit from the further extension of the network.
Inmarsat’s GX revenues
Inmarsat’s GX network began global services in 2015 and it remains the world’s first and only seamless global mobile broadband network.
Inmarsat has since grown GX revenues strongly and established leading positions in the
- emerging global Maritime,
- Aviation and
- Government mobile satellite broadband markets.
GX revenues increased by 85% to $250.9 m in 2018. GX is the most successful network for global mobility.
Dedicated GX capacity in the Arctic
Ronald Spithout, President, Inmarsat Maritime said that he would like to thank Space Norway for providing this opportunity to deliver dedicated GX capacity in the Arctic region.
He added, “Connectivity in the Arctic region for the maritime industry is growing in importance as, merchant, fishing and cruise ships transit new high-value waterways. With close to 7.000 vessels already using Fleet Xpress, we will always seek to be ahead of where our customers are going and what they demand from us. This enhancement is fully backward compatible with our existing Fleet Xpress service and will strengthen coverage over the Arctic to provide the connectivity needed by our customers now and into the future.”
Access to broadband capabilities
Jostein Rønnerberg, CEO of Space Norway said: “In close collaboration with Inmarsat and government partners we are about to get in place a strategically important capacity for all those currently operating in the Arctic without access to broadband capabilities.”
He added that their focus was on the users:
- fishermen,
- researchers,
- rescue personnel,
- coast guard,
- military and others.
“We are proud to join forces with Inmarsat and we are confident that this collaboration will be welcomed by those operating in the High North”.
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Source: Inmarsat
