Inmarsat picks NSSLGlobal as new reseller for GX satellite broadband

Inmarsat has appointed NSSLGlobal Ltd. to be its newest Value Added Reseller (VAR) for the Global Xpress (GX) product. NSSLGlobal will deliver the planned Inmarsat satellite broadband product to the maritime market.

GX uses Ka-band technology to deliver speeds up to 50 Mbps across the entire world. It is expected to be the first superfast satellite broadband service available to the shipping industry.

In comparison with current VSAT counterparts, GX terminals are more affordable and compact. Maritime operators that normally could not afford or accommodate the bigger satcom system can thus fit the GX system into their budget and aboard their vessels. At the same time, they will also enjoy consistent delivery of superior connectivity.

The Inmarsat FleetBroadband product will complement the resilience of the upcoming Global Xpress satellite broadband product in harsh environments. Both products enjoy the global coverage and reliability that Inmarsat is known for.

Founded in 1969, NSSLGlobal Ltd is an independent service provider for satellite communications solutions. Its thousands of maritime customers range from deep-sea merchant fleets to the super yacht market.

Cisco partners with Inmarsat, builds satellite service delivery platform

Inmarsat and Cisco recently announced that they are entering a long-term Global Partnership. The two companies will use Inmarsat’s Global Xpress satellite broadband network to deliver applications, business collaboration, video-to-multimedia content, and other advanced satellite communications services.

Cisco will develop a satellite applications service delivery platform and an access network for Global Xpress that will take advantage of the Inmarsat network’s capability to provide mobile Ka-band connectivity. Cisco will also create a router that satellite network end-users can use to access both the GX Ka-band network  and the BGAN L-band network.

The Cisco-designed network is scheduled to be introduced in 2014. Before it is turned over to Inmarsat, the new satellite network will be operated by Cisco on a fully managed basis. Advanced network capabilities such as voice, video, cloud application services and high speed Internet access will be enabled by Cisco’s Service Delivery Platform and Prime software stacks.

Inmarsat and its partners will develop and remotely deploy innovative applications on Cisco’s GX/BGAN integrated platform, which will deliver the new services across the entire Inmarsat network.

According to Rupert Pearce, Chief Executive Officer of Inmarsat plc, the Company’s Partnership with Cisco was an important part of Inmarsat’s future plans. Cisco will create world-class infrastructure that Inmarsat and the latter’s partners can use to offer services not limited to providing Internet-from-satellite connectivity.

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Communications provider JRC partners with Inmarsat for Global Xpress launch

In a recent announcement, Inmarsat reported that it was renewing and expanding its strategic maritime partnership with Japanese-based communications provider JRC in preparation for the 2014 launch of Inmarsat's Global Xpress satellite broadband platform.

According to Frank Coles, President, Inmarsat Maritime, Inmarsat has always closely integrated its products with the best hardware and antenna manufacturers for the best connectivity solutions.

“Our fourth generation satellite service, the FleetBroadband platform,” Mr. Coles cited as an example, “has rested heavily on reliable providers like JRC. We are now delighted to extend our partnership with JRC and together develop connectivity solutions for the Global Xpress programme, which will become operational during 2014."

He added that Inmarsat continues to develop intuitive products for the shipping market by integrating its next-generation high throughput services (HTS) with hardware solutions that have proven their reliability and quality.

As a trusted Inmarsat partner since 2005, JRC provides both products and support services for Inmarsat's FleetBroadband maritime communications platform. The partnership will be extended to encompass the new Global Xpress satellite broadband program as well.

JRC and Inmarsat will develop cost-efficient, compact, and easy-to-install solutions for the shipping industry. High-speed connectivity to be provided by Inmarsat's future fleet of Ka-band satellites.

Gottlieb International compares Global Xpress, EpicNG in its first maritime satellite broadband webinar

Maritime VSAT buyers should sign up for the "The Battle for the Broadband Maritime Customer - Global Xpress vs. EpicNG, the KVH V11, O3b" webinar by Gottlieb International Group. Not only is it free, but it will also provide forecasts on the future of satellite broadband in the maritime industry.

Gottlieb's Market Research and Business Development services help VSAT service providers in structuring, pricing, and marketing their service offerings for upstream markets like the maritime sector.

Its very first webinar will compare Inmarsat's Global Xpress and Intelsat's EpicNG, two competing satellite  communications services which leverage the new Ka-band frequency. Gottlieb will also discuss how the new satellite broadband services offered by two of the sector's biggest VSAT companies will affect the future of the market.

The webinar will take place on September 13, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Asian viewers can watch a replay at 9:00 a.m. SGT (Singapore time) on Friday, September 14th.

Interested parties can download the registration page at Gottlieb's home page, filling it up, and either faxing or emailing it back to Gottlieb. The company will provide a link and password to its maritime satellite broadband webinar.