London 02 December 2013 - Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has confirmed the launch date for the first of its game-changing Global Xpress (GX) satellites; Inmarsat-5 F1 (I-5 F1).
The satellite is scheduled to be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton Breeze M at 12.12 GMT on Sunday, 8th December.
Constructed by Boeing Satellite Systems International, Inc. (Boeing) to a proven design, the new GX spacecraft is the first of three satellites scheduled to be launched on behalf of Inmarsat by ILS.
Rupert Pearce, CEO of Inmarsat, said: “Global Xpress is the result of three years of planning and, together with a fourth GX satellite we ordered recently from Boeing, represents an investment of US$1.6 billion in our next generation of high bandwidth, high capacity, mobile broadband communications satellites. Global Xpress will ensure our satellite services fully support the current and future needs of end-users across the world - whether on land, at sea or in the air.”
The GX fleet is on schedule to achieve full global coverage by the end of 2014. It will offer a unique combination of seamless global coverage from a single operator, consistent higher performance of up to 50Mbps to mobile or fixed terminals, and the network reliability for which Inmarsat is renowned.
The launch of Inmarsat-5 F1 can be watched live online at http://inmarsat5f1.imgondemand.com/ on 8th December 2013.
And to make sure you don't miss it, you can access our Global Xpress Launch Countdown from here.
The Countdown will also be updated if there is a delay for any reason, keeping you up to date with the new schedule.
Please do let us know if you have any questions, and make sure you don’t miss the launch!
