GLOBAL XPRESS SET TO REDEFINE OFFSHORE COMMUNICATIONS

摘要

Inmarsat is about to launch its Ka-band Global Xpress satellite network that should bring genuine competition to offshore communications. The constellation of three satellites will deliver Ka-band spot beams over regions of offshore oil and gas activity for vessels and production facilities to utilise. For vessel owners, it promises to enable new applications to improve operations, client communications and crew welfare packages, but it will be competing with existing C-band and Ku-band services for delivering online connectivity. These technologies are accessed on vessels using very small aperture terminals (VSATs) that are optimised for the specific radio frequency band.