This agreement will see Intellian design and manufacture a new generation of FleetBroadband terminals to support the existing I-4 network alongside the major advances coming with Inmarsat’s sixth generation satellite constellation, the first of which is scheduled for launch in 2020.
The new terminals will be produced at a significantly lower cost and feature a host of new capabilities, including much faster throughput speeds, the organisations said.
Ronald Spithout, Inmarsat Maritime president, said: “Inmarsat has maintained its leadership position for many decades by understanding the maritime industry and focusing our resources on continual innovation. As we approach the next stage of FleetBroadband’s evolution, we are excited to have partner such as Intellian with a justified reputation for flexible, high quality terminals that are manufactured in the most cost-efficient manner. We selected Intellian for this project because of their spirit of innovation and passion.
“It is also important to note that along with lower cost hardware and supercharged capabilities, the next generation of FleetBroadband, with the latest core module technology, will provide not just GMDSS but enhanced safety services; continuing to keep seafarers safe wherever they are in the world,” he said.
Eric Sung, CEO of Intellian, said: “FleetBroadband has been a market leader for over a decade. We are delighted to be working closely with Inmarsat on the ground-breaking enhancements that will be delivered through the Inmarsat-6 satellite constellation. Supported by a portfolio of the most advanced terminals in the world, the new capabilities of FleetBroadband further Inmarsat’s leading position in L-band services.”
The Inmarsat-6 satellite constellation will be the first of the organisation’s constellation to feature dual-payload satellites, each supporting L-band and Ka-band services. The I-6 satellites will support the L-band services’ new capabilities – from advanced global safety services and very low cost mobile services to Internet of Things (IoT) applications.