Global Xpress connectivity demonstrated by Inmarsat flight

Inmarsat has successfully completed its Global Xpress ‘Around the World’ test flight on a Gulfstream IV aircraft.

This flight, which covered more than 40,000 km, was designed to demonstrate Global Xpress’s ability to deliver worldwide coverage via multiple spot beams and satellites.

The flight route spanned the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, beginning in the United States with stops in the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Australia and Fiji.

“This Gulfstream IV Around the World test flight demonstrates Inmarsat’s ability to deliver reliable, seamless, next-generation wideband connectivity for aeronautical users,” said Steve Gizinski, vice president of special programs, Inmarsat US Government Business Unit.

“Highly mobile, bandwidth-hungry government and commercial users can now travel the world and enjoy connectivity that allows them to conduct business as if they were in the office … even while 40,000 feet in the air.”

A Global Xpress subscription-based data plan was configured for the Honeywell aero tail mount antenna (TMA), with a committed information rate of 4 Mbps forward and 1 Mbps return, but capable of 15 Mbps or more. Uniform coverage and service was delivered to the aircraft as it moved across 28 beams, with handovers that went unnoticed by users; and three satellite-to-satellite handovers that were accomplished seamlessly.

The terminal’s global plan enabled access to the Global Xpress network worldwide without the need to pre-coordinate and receive satellite-specific option files. During the flight, Global Xpress supported mission-critical voice, data and streaming applications to include video teleconferencing, high-speed internet access and file transfer, VPN and phone calls, and fully delivered or exceeded the committed information rate.

Image credit: ©FreeImages.com/B S K

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