Astrium and Inmarsat Sign Strategic Agreement on Global Xpress®
London, UK, December 19, 2013 – Astrium and Inmarsat have reached a strategic distribution partnership agreement which will see Global Xpress services made available to Astrium Services’s large partner and customer base. Astrium Services will deliver Global Xpress high-speed broadband services through its worldwide distribution channels. The strategic agreement will cover key vertical markets, including the maritime as well as the government and defence sector, initially in Europe.
In due course the Astrium Services Global Xpress offering will encompass all service types – packaged services, bandwidth capacity, as well as commercial and military Ka-band.
Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band satellite network will provide a seamless worldwide broadband service. The first Global Xpress satellite was successfully launched on December 8,2013 and is on schedule to achieve global coverage by the end of 2014. Astrium Services customers will benefit not only from the world’s first globally available mobile broadband network, but also from a comprehensive range of global connectivity services designed for commercial and government markets.
“This agreement is the natural continuity of a long-standing partnership between Astrium Services and Inmarsat,” Evert Dudok, CEO of Astrium Services said. “Astrium Services has been Inmarsat’s number one distribution partner since we acquired Vizada in December 2011. We are eager to continue this strong relationship by bringing the benefits of Global Xpress to our customers using our satcom expertise.”
Rupert Pearce, CEO of Inmarsat said: “We are delighted that Astrium has committed to continue its long and valued partnership with Inmarsat into the Global Xpress era. Global Xpress is going to change the game in mobile satellite connectivity and we are delighted that Astrium Services is joining us in bringing the benefits of the world’s first high speed global broadband service to its impressive portfolio of customers. Astrium serves an unparalleled range of market segments and, together with their powerful network of service providers, will help make Global Xpress the preferred choice for end-users in those segments, extending and deepening our global business partnership."
In the maritime industry, Astrium Services covers transportation, leisure and fishing, cruise and ferry, as well as offshore. In the enterprise sector, Astrium Services provides high quality telecom services to land-based customers including oil and gas, mining, large-scale events, non-governmental organisations and large corporate entities worldwide. In the government sector, Astrium Services is the world’s primary private sector military satcom service supplier. Some of the most modern armed forces in the world figure among Astrium Services customers, including UK, France, Germany, USA, and NATO. In 2012, Astrium had a turnover over €5.8 billion and 18,000 employees worldwide.
Its three business units are: Astrium Space Transportation, the European prime contractor for launchers, orbital systems and space exploration; Astrium Satellites, a leading provider of satellite system solutions, including spacecraft, ground segments, payloads and equipments; Astrium Services, the Space services partner for critical missions, providing comprehensive fixed and mobile solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, and bespoke geo-information services, worldwide.
Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS. In 2012, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of €56.5 billion and employed a workforce of over 140,000. Effective from January 1, 2014, Astrium will be integrated into Airbus Defence and Space together with Airbus Military and Cassidian.
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