Artist’s rendition of the first Global Xpress satellite, Inmarsat 15. Photo: Inmarsat

[Via Satellite 09-10-2014] Inmarsat has finalized its agreement with Rockwell Collins to become a Value Added Reseller for Global Xpress (GX) capacity. Rockwell Collins will focus specifically on the commercial air market, selling connectivity and In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) services.

According to Inmarsat, GX Aviation will provide up to 50 Mbps of connectivity at almost any point on Earth. Inmarsat’s first GX satellite, Inmarsat I5, was launched aboard a Proton rocket in December 2013. Following the May 2014 Proton failure, Inmarsat’s schedule for GX was delayed. The Ka-band service is now expected to be globally available by the end of the first half of 2015. Rockwell Collins reports that airborne hardware certification is currently underway.

“By combining GX with our current L-Band services, we’ll also be able to provide our airline customers with a complete portfolio of connectivity options for a full range of applications from the cockpit to the cabin,” said Jeff Standerski, senior vice president of information management services at Rockwell Collins.