Inmarsat Global Xpress network, rendering. Photo: Inmarsat

Inmarsat will introduce two new satellite payloads dedicated to the Arctic region in a partnership with Space Norway and its subsidiary, Space Norway HEOSAT.

The new Global Xpress (GX) payloads aim to 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. Inmarsat’s new Arctic capabilities aims to 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.

“Norway has been a strong, strategic partner for Inmarsat over many years.  It is the home to one of our most advanced research and development centers, located at the Norwegian Maritime Competence Center (NMCC) based in Ålesund, which is part of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology campus,” Inmarsat CEO Rupert Pearce said. “Connectivity in the Arctic region is growing in importance as aircraft fly more northerly routes, merchant ships transit new high-value waterways and the region becomes of increasing geo-political importance for diverse governments. Inmarsat’s GX network will always seek to be ahead of where our customers are going and what they demand from us. This enhancement is fully backward compatible and will strengthen coverage over the Arctic to provide the connectivity needed by our customers now and into the future. As part of the existing Inmarsat GX network, customers will now have seamless, high-quality mobile broadband services as they travel in and out of the Arctic region.”