Inmarsat Orders Global Xpress Spare from Boeing

摘要

Mobile satellite services provider Inmarsat on Oct. 7 said it had exercised an option with satellite builder Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems for a fourth Ka-band Global Xpress satellite to serve as a spare in case one of the three others under construction is lost in a launch failure. London-based Inmarsat said the fourth satellite, to cost between $220 million and $250 million, will be used to expand the company's mobile broadband coverage in the event it is not required to replace a lost satellite. Three satellites in geostationary orbit can effectively cover the world, except the poles. The three Global Xpress satellites El Segundo, Calif.-based Boeing is building already are expected to be launched starting late this year, with full commercial service to start in late 2014 or early 2015.