Speedcast International signals growing industry acceptance for Global Xpress-powered services from Inmarsat

Leading connectivity provider extends commitment to ground-breaking Global Xpress-delivered services in energy, cruise and leisure markets

LONDON, 15-Jun-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — Speedcast International (ASX: SDA), one of the world’s leading providers of high-speed broadband connectivity to the global maritime industry, has signalled growing industry acceptance for Global Xpress-powered services from Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT.L) by adding more than 350 ships to the service roll-out plans it announced one year ago, including a number of high-end vessels in the energy, cruise and leisure markets.

Adding to the initial commitment to deploy Fleet Xpress onboard approximately 2,000 vessels over five years, the additional provision has been agreed to satisfy healthy demand from Speedcast’s more bandwidth-hungry vessels, which could also use a stand-alone Global Xpress service to satisfy bandwidth demand.

Alongside the addition of the high-end vessels, Inmarsat is also broadening its commercial partnership with Speedcast in the Greek maritime market, further to the strategic alliance formed last summer.

“This is a very important strategic move for Inmarsat,” says Ronald Spithout, President – Inmarsat Maritime. “Speedcast is one of the leading players in the maritime, land and energy industries and, after the recent acquisition of Harris CapRock, has a huge presence in the Offshore and Cruise markets. This underlines our increased commitment to Speedcast’s markets by providing high-bandwidth services either via Fleet Xpress with its L-band back-up or directly through a stand-alone Global Xpress service.”

Speedcast provides complete managed communications and IT solutions in the Cargo, Offshore, Cruise and Fishing vessel sectors. It recently became the first Inmarsat partner to integrate the digital base platform (formerly known as SoftNSD) into its service offering. This allows Speedcast to offer value added solutions and applications over its own SIGMA Gateway, encouraging third party application providers to develop innovative, content-rich applications over Fleet Xpress. Applications covering real-time analysis of data for engine monitoring, weather information and fuel consumption rates, etc., can deliver real gains in operational efficiency, safety and compliance, IT security and crew welfare.

Athina Vezyri, EVP, Maritime, of Speedcast comments: “Adding over 350 vessels to our arrangement with Inmarsat across Global Xpress-delivered services demonstrates Speedcast’s confidence in the service. There is a clear willingness from ship owners and operators from multiple segments to make reliable, high-speed connectivity a priority for safe and efficient vessel operation. Inmarsat services, together with the SIGMA Gateway platform that enables innovative new applications, will be one of the key components of our product portfolio.”

Fleet Xpress has already secured commitments covering more than 10,000 ships within 12 months of launch, reflecting a strong level of confidence in this new service. The milestone was reached earlier this year as a result of contracts with individual ship owners, commitments from strategic partners, such as Speedcast, and transitioning agreements with existing Inmarsat customers.

About Fleet Xpress
Fleet Xpress delivers a unique, fully integrated dual capability of high speed, high capacity Global Xpress service together with high reliability safety-level services (FleetBroadband) in a single commercial package which is available anywhere in the world. Fleet Xpress is further enriched by Inmarsat Gateway, a unique service enablement platform designed to provide ship owners, managers and operators with access to a new generation of value-added maritime applications, services and solutions.

Inmarsat’s maritime channel Partners include all the leading maritime communications resellers, providing global reach, customer intimacy and value-added capabilities in support of Fleet Xpress, and a well-managed pathway for Inmarsat’s current FleetBroadband customers to migrate over time up to Fleet Xpress.

In 2017 Fleet Xpress won the Smart4Sea Excellent Award for technological excellence in smart shipping.

About GX
Inmarsat’s GX high-speed global broadband service is uniquely designed and optimised for superior mobility performance across multiple markets. GX is the only satellite broadband service in the market with global coverage, guaranteed data rates and an ultra-reliable L-band network that it can work with seamlessly. Inmarsat’s global broadband network is designed, owned and operated by Inmarsat for seamless end-to-end performance.

About Speedcast International Limited
Speedcast International Ltd (ASX: SDA) is the world’s most trusted provider of highly reliable, fully managed, end-to-end remote communication and IT solutions. The company utilizes an extensive worldwide footprint of local support, infrastructure and coverage to design, integrate, secure and optimize networks tailored to customer needs. With differentiated technology, an intense customer focus and a strong safety culture, Speedcast serves more than 2,000 customers in over 140 countries via 39 teleports, including offshore rigs and cruise ships, 10,000+ maritime vessels and 4,500+ terrestrial sites. Speedcast supports mission-critical applications in industries such as maritime, oil and gas, enterprise, media, cruise and government. Learn more at www.speedcast.com.

About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat operates around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ISAT.L).

The Inmarsat press release newsfeed and corporate updates are on @InmarsatGlobal.

SOURCE:  Inmarsat plc.