Inmarsat and Honeywell announce Satcom1 as distributor of GX Aviation for the Business Aviation Market

GX Aviation will enable business aviation aircraft to offer passengers access to unprecedented broadband speeds, data rates and bandwidth

NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, Las Vegas 22 October 2013 – Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the world’s leading provider of mobile satellite communications services and Honeywell Aerospace have announced the aeronautical satellite communications solution provider, Satcom1, as a distribution partner to deliver GX Aviation to VIP, government and business aircraft across the globe.

With GX, business aircraft owners and operators will have global, high speed and reliable broadband connectivity through Inmarsat’s wholly owned and operated Ka-band satellites and ground networks.
The formal agreement is between Satcom1 and Honeywell, the designated business aviation reseller for Inmarsat’s GX Aviation Ka-band connectivity services.

Miranda Mills, Inmarsat President, Aviation, said: “It’s an exciting time to be a part of the in-flight connectivity market. GX will offer operators the first high-speed, globally available and reliable in-flight global connectivity service. The operational and cost benefits to aircraft operators will be significant. With its strong background in aeronautical satellite communications, Satcom1 is the ideal partner to promote the benefits of GX to business aviation operators around the globe.”

The combined GX Aviation network and hardware is scheduled to be commercially available in early 2015, providing high speed broadband services with complete global coverage for all aircraft requirements, both in the cockpit and the cabin.

Aircell becomes latest GX Aviation distribution partner for Business Aviation

GX Aviation remains on track for service entry in early 2015

NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, Las Vegas 22 October 2013 – Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the world’s leading provider of mobile satellite communications services, and Honeywell Aerospace have announced Aircell, Gogo’s (NASDAQ: GOGO) business aviation subsidiary, as a GX Aviation distribution partner for the business aviation market. Aircell is already an Inmarsat SwiftBroadband distribution partner.

The formal GX agreement is between Aircell and Honeywell, the designated business aviation reseller for Inmarsat’s ground-breaking Ka-band connectivity services.

“GX Aviation is rapidly gathering momentum and everything is coming into place. The first satellite is scheduled to be available to support a launch as early as December this year. The development of the ground infrastructure is progressing as planned and Honeywell is moving ahead with the airborne terminals,” said Miranda Mills, Inmarsat President, Aviation. “With the addition of Aircell to our list of distribution partners, we have signed up all the major inflight connectivity service providers and we are already having very positive discussions with aircraft owners and operators.”

Using Ka-band technology, GX Aviation will be the first globally available high-speed broadband network. It will offer the unique combination of global coverage from a single operator, consistent higher performance with true broadband speeds, and the network reliability for which Inmarsat is renowned.

John Wade, Aircell’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, said, “We’re pleased to be selected to offer this important new service to the business aviation market. Aircell already offers one of the most comprehensive in-flight connectivity portfolios in the industry, and offering GX Aviation service is a very logical addition.”

The first of the Inmarsat-5 satellites which will make up the GX constellation is currently in final preparation for shipment at Boeing’s El Segundo satellite manufacturing facility. It will be traveling to Kazakhstan in the next few weeks. GX Aviation is scheduled to enter service in early 2015.