[Satnews] Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has signed a contract to provide high-speed inflight connectivity services for passengers onboard Lufthansa’s European continental fleet.

Powering aviation connectivity. Wherever you fly,
Inmarsat’s unmatched quality broadband flies with you.

The contract, which follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) announced between Inmarsat and Lufthansa last month, formalizes not only a 10-year strategic partnership between Lufthansa Group and Inmarsat, but also provides a contract framework to extend the service to the other airline brands in the Group.

Under the agreement, Inmarsat will equip more than 150 Lufthansa airlines aircraft with Global Xpress (GX), with additional Lufthansa Group aircraft being added in due course. The first of these aircraft will be equipped and tested in early summer 2016. Lufthansa will additionally be testing the European Aviation Network in 2017. 

Leo Mondale, President, Inmarsat Aviation, said, “We are very pleased to conclude this strategic agreement with Lufthansa Group, which ensures that Lufthansa will be offering their continental fleet passengers the best in-flight connectivity in the airline industry today. As part of this agreement we will be working with Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Systems for the integration of our services onboard the aircraft, making the most of their state-of-the-art products, technology and know-how.”

With Inmarsat’s next generation connectivity services Lufthansa Group will offer in-flight broadband connectivity that allows its European passengers to browse the Internet, watch videos, connect to their company’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) and download files all with a reliable connection that matches the quality and speed that they expect when they’re on the ground.