Second-generation satellites will transform maritime connectivity

摘要

As the first generation of high-throughput constellations are completed, operators are focusing on a new series of extremely powerful satellites that will transform maritime communications. Satellites under development will be more powerful and flexible than existing units to deliver much greater bandwidth to maritime and offshore users. Inmarsat has ordered two sixth-generation geostationary satellites for its Fleet Xpress and L-band services. It is investing in extremely high-throughput satellites (XTS) over the next three years to more than double the capacity it can offer in Ka-band frequencies of radiocommunications from the Global Xpress network, says Inmarsat Maritime president Ronald Spithout. There will also be a huge L-band payload on these satellites to boost the bandwidth Inmarsat delivers over its FleetBroadband and Fleet One services to maritime. Currently, Fleet Xpress is provided as a hybrid VSAT service with Ka-band communications over a fifth-generation constellation of satellites and L-band from Inmarsat's fourth-generation constellation. Inmarsat commissioned a fourth satellite for the L-band network in 2018 and is planning to launch a fifth satellite for its Global Xpress network this year. Its sixth-generation satellites are scheduled to be commissioned from 2021.