Boeing Tests Capabilities in Inmarsat Global Xpress Commercial Network

Boeing is completing the first tests of military Ka-band service available through the Inmarsat-5 F2 commercial communications satellite, part of Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network.

The demonstrations to securely transmit high-data-rate information have involved ten major U.S. Department of Defense customer groups on fast-moving platforms and with users at multiple locations.

Among these tests has been the successful sending and receiving of real-time high-definition video through rotating blades on military helicopters equipped with SATCOM capabilities.

The tests showed the capabilities of the Inmarsat Global Xpress network through its F2 satellite in handling data up to 30 megabits per second - higher than previous industry tests on rotorcraft - without signal distortion or loss.

Other tests on mobile terminals showed how high-speed data can be transferred without degradation even in poor weather conditions and on terminals measuring as small as eight-by-eight inches.

The demonstrations have taken place along the East Coast since May and will continue through the end of July, allowing customers to test capabilities that will be available when Inmarsat-5 F2 becomes fully operational over the Atlantic and the Americas.

These services are available in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia through the Global Xpress Inmarsat-5 F1 satellite, and will be available over the Asia Pacific region following the launch of the third Global Xpress spacecraft.

The tests have also proven Global Xpress compatibility with the Wideband Global System (WGS), the primary communications architecture for DoD satellite communications.

“These tests show users how they can seamlessly switch in the field between Inmarsat Global Xpress and WGS signals,” said Jim Mitchell, vice president of Boeing Commercial Satellite Services (BCSS), which is authorized to re-sell Global Xpress capacity. “The tests also demonstrate how high-speed data and video can be transferred securely with anti-jam protections in adverse environmental and weather conditions.”

The Global Xpress network includes the Inmarsat-5 F1 satellite, which has been successfully providing wideband connectivity to U.S. government users across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and eastern Asia since last July. The second Inmarsat-5 F2 satellite was launched 1 February, and the third Inmarsat-5 F3 satellite is ready for launch later this year.

The on-orbit fielding of the three satellites will complete the Global Xpress Inmarsat-5 constellation, providing worldwide high-throughput wideband capability.