Upcoming Launches will Reinforce Connectivity, Coverage for Jet ConneX Customers Worldwide

Inmarsat has announced the specifics of an upcoming upgrade program that will see its inflight broadband performance take a quantitative leap up to 130 mbps while aloft. 

Inmarsat's Jet ConneX connectivity program leverages the brand's global Ka-band satellite constellation for universal internet access while aloft, standing apart from similar service offerings in the sphere that have increasingly relied on terrestrial networks. Inmarsat's tech is capable of offering constant multi-user, multi-device support with uninterrupted high-definition video for passengers throughout the flight, soon boasting speeds better than a fair number of home internet connections.

The new capability stems from recent satellite additions underway or in planning for the near future. A pair of the "most sophisticated commercial communications satellites ever built", the Inmarsat-6, will enter company service next year, to be followed by 2 more payloads the year after. Those will carry a slightly different mission from the normal life of internet comms satellites. Where most go on to spend most of their career serving up video conferencing and children's programming, the new additions will be sent into a highly elliptical orbit, serving up aircraft flying in higher latitudes and arctic wilderness. Once those satellites are safely in place, 3 more satellites in geostationary orbit will round out the additions to further reinforce coverage throughout the inmarsat network. 

Kai Tang, Inmarsat Business Aviation head, said “Inmarsat’s Jet ConneX is regarded as the gold standard of business aviation connectivity and its market leadership has only been reinforced following the pandemic, with soaring demand for inflight broadband that is fast, reliable and consistent across all flight routes. Inmarsat’s JX Evolution follows our ethos of building ahead of demand and the new service plans that will launch as part of this program will redefine the concept of premium connectivity.

“Speeds in excess of 130Mbps are exciting and customers can expect even higher numbers as we launch more advanced satellites in the coming years. Our fully funded technology roadmap will offer more than enough capacity to meet the needs of existing and future customers through to 2030 and beyond. We are especially excited about the second generation terminals that our partners are building to join the very successful JetWave terminal currently used for JX.”

FMI: www.inmarsat.com