Inmarsat and Arianescape Launch S-band Satellite for European Aviation Network

Mobile satellite communications is getting a major advancement with the contractual partnership of two international global mobile satellite providers. 

Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communications, has signed a contract with Arianespace, provider of access to space transportation services and solutions for launching commercial and institutional satellites into orbit, to launch the S-band satellite for the European Aviation Network (EAN) on an Ariane 5 heavy lift launch vehicle. 

The EAN payload is part of a condosat constructed by Thales Alenia Space. This will incorporate a second payload for Hellas-Sat. The condosat is scheduled to launch from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana in mid-2017. The Inmarsat S-band/Hellas-Sat 3 will provide Mobile Satellite Services (MSS), Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) and Broadcast Satellite Services (BSS).

Built on the Spacebus 4000 C4 platform from Thales Alenia Space, it will deliver a multi-beam mission in S-band for Inmarsat as well as a powerful Ku/Ka-Band mission of 44 Ku and 1 Ka transponders for Hellas-Sat.

“We are delighted with flexibility that Arianespace has shown in being able to provide a launch slot that enables us to place our European Aviation Network S-band satellite in orbit by mid-2017,” said Michele Franci, CTO, Inmarsat. “This launch schedule supports the introduction of our ground-breaking integrated satellite and air-to-ground net-work, developed by Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom, which will deliver a very high capacity broadband Wi-Fi experience for passengers flying throughout Europe.”

The Inmarsat S-band European Aviation Network (EAN) payload is the satellite component of a new integrated satellite and air-to-ground network. It was developed by Inmarsat in partnership with Deutsche Telekom with the hopes of delivering  very high capacity broadband WiFi services to aviation passengers flying throughout Europe.

“With this new launch contract, we are very proud to continue our partnership with Inmarsat that goes back to 1981. It is an honor as well to have been selected by Hellas-Sat for the second time in less than two years. The trust of our customers is a true recognition of the outstanding reliability and availability of our heavyweight launch system Ariane 5, which celebrated last month its 75th success in a row since 2003,” said Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël, chairman and CEO, Arianespace.

Both Inmarsat and Arianescape are working to advance the future of mobile satellite communications.