What is Inmarsat?
Inmarsat plc was a British satellite telecommunications company founded in 1979 as the International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT), initially established by treaty to provide satellite safety communications for ships. It was privatised in 1999 and became one of the world's leading mobile satellite service operators before its 2023 acquisition by Viasat for approximately $7.3 billion.
Fleet and services
Inmarsat operates three primary satellite networks. The Inmarsat-4 (I-4) L-band fleet (3 GEO satellites at 143.5°E, 25°E, and 54°W) provides the BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service for satellite phones, maritime/aviation safety communications, and low-data-rate IoT globally — L-band's near-omni-directional reception makes it uniquely suitable for maritime SOLAS distress requirements. The Global Xpress (GX) Ka-band HTS network (Inmarsat-5 and Inmarsat-6 series) provides high-throughput maritime and aeronautical broadband. The European Aviation Network (EAN) combines GEO satellite with LTE ground station technology for ultra-low-latency aeronautical connectivity in Europe.
Post-Viasat acquisition
The 2023 Viasat-Inmarsat merger creates a combined company with one of the world's largest satellite fleets across GEO (ViaSat-3 and Inmarsat-6 Ka-band, Inmarsat-4 L-band) and with a roadmap for LEO integration. The combined entity competes across maritime, aeronautical, enterprise, and government markets globally.