Inmarsat announced the successful launch of GX5, the fifth satellite in its Global Xpress (GX) fleet to provide global broadband service.
The satellite was lifted into orbit by an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the Ariane Launch Complex No. 3 (ELA-3) in Kourou, French Guiana. GX5 is scheduled to enter commercial service in early 2020 and deliver additional, focused broadband capacity over Europe and the Middle East.
With a particular focus on aviation passenger wi-fi, the commercial maritime market and meeting growing government demand, GX5 will deliver more capacity into the region than the existing four satellites in the Global Xpress network (GX1-GX4) combined provide worldwide. Over the next four years, this new satellite will be joined by a further seven advanced GX payloads, which represent unprecedented enhancement in overall capacity and capabilities of the GX network; the world’s first and only, globally available, seamless mobile broadband network.
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.
