Inmarsat and Cisco agree to a satellite services alliance

8 October 2012

Inmarsat and Cisco have announced the creation of a unique long-term alliance that will enable Inmarsat to deliver advanced services, from applications to business collaboration and video to multimedia content over Inmarsat’s new high-throughput satellite broadband network, Global Xpress (GX).

Cisco will provide Inmarsat with a state-of-the-art satellite applications service delivery platform and a high performance access network for Inmarsat’s Global Xpress programme, the first global Ka-band (the satellite transmission frequency) network with mobile connectivity. Cisco will also develop a router for satellite network end-users that will utilise not only the Inmarsat GX capabilities but also the current BGAN global network.

Cisco will build and operate the network on a fully managed basis before transferring it to Inmarsat, and will use its key software stacks of Service Delivery Platform and Prime to enable advanced capabilities such as voice, video, cloud application services and high speed internet access.

This GX/BGAN integrated platform will allow Inmarsat and its partners to rapidly develop and remotely deploy innovative applications to this new device and will extend the reach of new services across the whole Inmarsat network. Inmarsat will become a Global Partner for Cisco and both companies will bring their combined service capabilities to Inmarsat’s value added resellers around the globe.

Rupert Pearce, Chief Executive Officer, Inmarsat plc , said “Through these agreements with Cisco we are providing world-class infrastructure as a platform for our partners and us to offer services beyond pure satellite connectivity and this is a key aspect of our strategy for the future.”

Scheduled for service introduction in 2014, the service delivery platform and satellite network router will leverage Global Xpress and BGAN offering unprecedented data rates and bandwidth, backed by Inmarsat’s quality standards, performance and global reach and providing the same experience as terrestrial broadband. It will be the only hybrid Ka and L-band network designed to provide consistent global coverage.

“The collaboration between Inmarsat and Cisco truly augments Cisco's vision of any device, anytime, anywhere,” said Rob Lloyd, President, Development and Sales, Cisco. “Imagine watching on demand TV in an aircraft, using TelePresence on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean, or accessing cost effective HD TV broadcasting from any location. We are truly excited about the possibilities this unique alliance creates.”

“These agreements will allow Cisco and Inmarsat to create new value propositions for our customers. Inmarsat will benefit tremendously from Cisco technology and distribution reach and Cisco will be able to provide connectivity for its services and products anytime, anywhere” said Pearce. “We are going to foster a new satellite applications development environment that should provide great opportunities for our distributors, our customers and our companies.”