Inmarsat has confirmed the successful launch of GX5, the fifth satellite in the Global Xpress (GX) fleet delivering Fleet Xpress maritime VSAT services. The satellite was lifted into orbit by an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana.
GX5 is scheduled to enter commercial service in early 2020 and deliver additional broadband capacity over Europe and the Middle East, providing more bandwidth than the existing four satellites in the Global Xpress network (GX1-GX4) combined.
GX5 will be joined by a further seven GX payloads in the next four years, Inmarsat says, exponentially increasing Fleet Xpress capacity for current and future users.
“I am delighted to confirm the successful launch of GX5, the next exciting step in the story of Global Xpress, which has already become the gold standard of worldwide mobile satellite broadband,” said Rupert Pearce, CEO, Inmarsat.
“This marks the first of eight launches in the coming four years that will grow our world-leading services to meet rapidly-expanding demand, connecting people around the world to reach their full potential. GX5 will also continue to ensure that Inmarsat’s thousands of Global Xpress customers remain at the cutting-edge of global connectivity technologies as their needs evolve.”
