Photo: Airbus Defence and Space

[Via Satellite 07-17-2014] Inmarsat has signed a new strategic agreement with Airbus Defence and Space to offer high-speed Ka-band broadband connectivity to the U.S. government. The agreement enables Airbus Defence and Space to sell the service from Global Xpress as part of the company’s AuroraGlobal suite of high throughput services.

“Our customers will have access to a global network that is designed for interoperability with government Ka-band networks and its small terminals can support a comprehensive range of bandwidth-intensive mobile applications including airborne intelligence, live full-motion video, special operations and theatre backhaul,” said Ed Spitler, president of Airbus Defense and Space’s government satellite communications unit in the United States.

The first Global Xpress satellite, Inmarsat 5, was launched in December 2013 and was introduced for commercial service at the beginning of July 2014. Inmarsat plans to have the complete three-satellite constellation ready for commercial service introduction (CSI) during 2015.