[SatNews] Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L) has appointed SpeedCast (ASX:SDA) to its Enterprise Global Xpress (GX) Value Added Resellers (VARs) program.

SpeedCast is the first GX VAR for Inmarsat Enterprise to come from the VSAT industry.  Recognizing the value in the GX platform and Ka-band network, which offers fixed and mobile satellite services on a global basis, GX will bring a unique offering to SpeedCast’s customers in media, mining, oil and gas and NGOs, as well as corporate multinationals. Under this agreement, SpeedCast will now be able to expand their existing satellite service portfolio with the addition of GX, with its unique platform and capabilities, to bring new service options to their customers.  With the first GX satellite commercially available, they look to immediately expand their product offerings for their customer base in geographies such as Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia.

Global Xpress is the world’s first globally available Ka-band mobile broadband satellite network from a single operator, representing a new era in mobile communications. Global Xpress will provide very high bandwidth services to end-users on land, at sea and in the air, delivered through a resilient, secure waveform that is optimized for mobility. It integrates seamlessly with Inmarsat’s reliable L-band network which customers have depended on for decades. The first Global Xpress satellite – covering Europe, Russia, Africa, Middle East and Asia – successfully began commercial services in 2014.  The second GX satellite was successfully launched on 1st February this year and Inmarsat is on track to have GX services available on a global basis early in the second half of 2015.
 
Rash Jhanjee, Head of GX Business Development and Strategy, Inmarsat Enterprise said, “This appointment further endorses Inmarsat’s entry into the VSAT market and reflects how our global Ka-band network is attracting leading operators from the VSAT industry.”

Andrew Burdall, VP of Strategic Business Development of SpeedCast, said,  “Global Xpress is a perfect fit for media organizations that need to stream live video, NGOs supporting critical missions in remote areas, as well as energy companies that require higher bandwidth for business applications from their remote sites. Inmarsat’s portfolio of SATCOM solutions, including the Global Xpress service, is a valuable addition to our comprehensive suite of satellite solutions.”