Inmarsat who are a UK satellite broadband provider have signed a contract with Boeing that will see them get three 702HP Ka-band satellites which will be able to deliver broadband speeds of up to 50Mb.

The main target use for these services are for people on cruise ships and airplanes and it will change the way that people are able to access the internet when on the move, especially when on flights.

The three new satellites will be used to make up the new Inmarsat-5 (I-5) constellation and will be used to support the next generation global service called Global Xpress.
The cost of the three new satellites and the development of the Golbal Xpress service will be about £750m ($1.2 bn) over 4 and a half years.
However, within 5 years of the Global Xpress being launched Inmarsat are aiming to be taking in around $500m per year in Ka-band revenues.

The aim is for the Global Xpress services being available using these satellites during 2014.

Andrew Sukawaty, the chairman and chief executive of Inmarsat said:

“This is a new investment for growth. With the Global Xpress network, we will be the first operator to offer global broadband coverage, offering unparalleled speeds and bandwidth to customers in remote locations around the world.

“Global Xpress will be faster and less expensive than current Ku-band market offerings, it will be delivered to smaller and cheaper terminals and be the first offered on a seamless, global, end-to-end basis with high-quality of service. Picture 50Mpbs services to a ship or aircraft, and 10Mpbs to an antenna the size of an iPad (20cm).

“The Inmarsat-5s will also complement our existing global L-band services, allowing us to offer unique hybrid packages using both networks, giving users unprecedented levels of resilience and reliability in remote and harsh environments.“