Inmarsat launches GX5 satellite

Airline passenger Wi-Fi and maritime and government connectivity across Europe and the Middle East are set to expand with the successful launch of Inmarsat’s fifth Global Xpress (GX5) satellite.

The satellite — which lifted off on an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from Ariane Launch Complex in Kourou, French Guiana — is expected to deliver more capacity to the region than the four existing satellites in Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network (GX1–GX4) combined provide worldwide, once it enters commercial service early next year, the company said.

It will be joined by seven other satellites over the next four years to enhance the company’s “globally available, seamless mobile broadband network”, Inmarsat said.

For now, the company’s focus is manoeuvring GX5 into orbit, 36,000 km above the Earth, and deploying its solar panels and antenna reflectors, before testing and calibrating the spacecraft for commercial service in 2020.

Image courtesy Inmarsat.