Inmarsat selects OTE Group and Greece for location of the terrestrial satellite infrastructure for its European Aviation Network (EAN)

OTE Group’s terrestrial satellite station will serve as a gateway between space and ground

ATHENS, 9-11-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has selected OTE Group and Greece for the location of the terrestrial satellite infrastructure for its European Aviation Network (EAN), in order to provide inflight broadband over Europe.

The satellite access station will be hosted in OTE Group’s Satellite Communications Center in Nemea and will serve as a gateway towards Inmarsat’s new advanced satellite, which is currently being manufactured. The satellite will communicate with the Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) terminal of the aircraft and secure seamless internet service provision that Inmarsat offers, with OTE being in charge of operating the satellite access station.

The European Aviation Network is an innovative network that will enable millions of flight passengers over Europe to use their smartphones and other devices inflight, in the same way they would on the ground. EAN combines the new Inmarsat satellite technology and a new pan-European terrestrial broadband LTE network, the latter of which will be operated by Deutsche Telekom.

Leo Mondale, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “The European Aviation Network is an important development for Inmarsat, for the aviation industry, and for Europe. Our agreement with OTE Group to install the satellite access station in Nemea is an important milestone of this exciting project. The OTE Group, as the existing operator of our Global Xpress satellite access station in Nemea, has already demonstrated its abilities as an efficient supplier for Inmarsat. We are delighted to extend this partnership which ensures continuous communications, as well as operational efficiencies to be achieved via providing both the GX and EAN Inmarsat services from the same Satellite Communications Center.”

Zacharias Piperidis, OTE Group Chief Operating Officer, stated: “With this partnership the OTE Group shows that besides providing traditional satellite services, it can reliably support the demanding global market of new generation technologies, which require infrastructure and services of the highest standards. OTE Group’s Satellite Communications Centers in Nemea and Thermopylae have now become the most important ones in the wider region of Europe, Middle East and Africa and can service the most important satellite organizations worldwide.”

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 employs around 1,600 staff in more than 60 locations 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 (LSE: ISAT.L). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com.

About OTE Group
OTE Group is the largest telecommunications provider in Greece, and, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of the leading telecom groups in South-eastern Europe. It offers the full range of telecommunications services, from fixed-line and mobile telephony, broadband services and pay television, to high-speed data communications and leased lines services. OTE Group is the largest investor in new networks in Greece, investing EUR 1.2 billion over the ongoing four-year period.

About OTE Group satellite services
Through its Satellite Communications Centers located in Nemea and Thermopylae, OTE provides the global market with integrated high-quality services, securing ISO-certified Business Continuity for business and residential customers. Its experience in providing global satellite services renders OTE the optimal partner for media and broadcasters, civilian/governmental/military sectors, international telephone service providers, maritime enterprises, Internet service providers, and international terrestrial and satellite service providers. OTE Group forms a key gateway into Europe, North America, Australia, Africa, Middle East, and Western Asia.

Contact

Information for Media
CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIRECTION
MEDIA OFFICE
+30 210 6117434, +30 210 6118033
E-mail: media-office@ote.gr
Fax: +30 210 6115825

SOURCE: OTE Group