Inmarsat to lead EU-wide Roll Out of In-flight passenger Broadband Services

: Jun 13, 2014 - : 12:43 am

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Inmarsat plc, the world’s leading mobile satellite services operator, has announced its decision to deploy an integrated telecommunications network to deliver aviation passenger connectivity services on a EU-wide basis. To achieve this ambition, Inmarsat confirms its order for a new S-band satellite, to be called Europasat, and expects to complement this satellite with a fully integrated air-to-ground network across the EU. Inmarsat’s new aviation network will deliver high speed broadband services to commercial and business aviation passengers. These capabilities will be offered alongside Inmarsat’s Global Xpress aviation services, extending Inmarsat’s service coverage for aviation passengers seamlessly across the rest of the globe, and placing Inmarsat in a leadership position in the global in-flight passenger connectivity market. A market that is already both substantial and rapidly growing in North American and which offers exceptional growth potential globally.

CAPTION: Rupert Pearce, Inmarsat’s CEO Rupert Pearce, Inmarsat’s CEO commented, “North America has seen rapid take-up of in-flight passenger connectivity services, with installation and usage both growing very quickly. The success of the Gogo air-to-ground network has already triggered the building of a second competing network by AT&T, one of the world’s largest telecommunications operators. Independent research predicts that in-flight connectivity services will be a multi-billion dollar revenue sector by 2020. “We believe that the same in-flight connectivity opportunity exists in Europe and that, with the support of EU telecoms regulators, Inmarsat can rapidly bring to market unique, high speed aviation passenger connectivity services to meet this market demand on an EU-wide basis. A number of European airlines are aligned with this vision and we are absolutely delighted to announce advanced discussions with British Airways to be a launch customer on our new aviation network.” Kate Thornton, Head of Product and Service at British Airways commented, “British Airways is in discussions with Inmarsat about leading Europe in a new era of broadband in the air. Starting with UK domestic routes Inmarsat intends to deploy Europe’s first ground-based 4G broadband network giving our customers the internet access they expect on the ground while in the air”.