Inmarsat successfully launches Europe in-flight internet satellite

Mobile satellite communications operator Inmarsat confirmed the successful launch of its S-band satellite (Inmarsat S EAN) for the European Aviation Network (EAN) on Thursday.

The FTSE 250 company said the launch was a “key milestone” for Inmarsat's EAN service, which was on course to commence commercial service in the second half of 2017.

It said the Inmarsat S-band satellite, built by French firm Thales Alenia Space, was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket by Arianespace at 2215 BST on Wednesday from Kourou in French Guiana.

Following satellite separation at 2243 BST, telemetry from the satellite was acquired by Inmarsat's Mingenew Ground Station in Western Australia at 2250 BST.

The launch team from Inmarsat and Thales Alenia Space would now raise the satellite into its geostationary orbit over Europe and the Middle East, at which point the spacecraft would deploy its solar arrays and reflectors, and undergo “rigorous” payload testing.

Inmarsat described EAN as the “world's first dedicated aviation connectivity solution” to integrate space-based and ground-based networks to deliver a seamless WiFi experience for airline passengers throughout Europe.

Its strategic partner, Deutsche Telekom, was said to be “well advanced” in the construction of the complementary ground network, which would be fully integrated with the S-band satellite to deliver a “truly seamless service” for Europe's airlines and their passengers.

British Airways parent International Airlines Group was confirmed as the launch customer for the new service, and had begun equipping its aircraft already, aiming to have 90% of its short-haul fleet complete by early 2019.

“The successful launch of the S-band satellite underlines the momentum that Inmarsat is building in the high-speed broadband in flight connectivity (IFC) market, which Inmarsat entered in October 2016 with the commercial introduction of GX Aviation, a worldwide service powered by its Ka-band, Global Xpress satellite constellation,” its board explained in its statement.

Inmarsat said it now had more than 1,200 aircraft installations expected under signed contracts for its IFC services.

Mandates had been won from a number of airlines worldwide including Avianca, Qatar Airways, Deutsche Lufthansa Group, International Airlines Group, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle.

"Inmarsat and its partners have been making very strong progress in the IFC market and the successful launch of our S-band satellite means that the start of our revolutionary European Aviation Network is now just months away," said CEO Rupert Pearce.

“We first announced our plans for EAN in 2014, seeking to take advantage of a visionary and unique commercial and technological opportunity created by the European Commission's DG CONNECT and subsequently supported by Member State telecoms regulators.”

Pearce highlighted that, although Inmarsat was a relatively new entrant into the high-speed aviation passenger broadband market, it had already secured commitments for its IFC services from major airlines in Europe and across the world.

“Their confidence underlines the strength of Inmarsat's IFC strategy and the long-term, scalable capabilities of our two core IFC networks - GX Aviation and EAN.

“We are focused on delivering the most reliable, seamless connectivity services to airlines and remain the only major provider to deliver guaranteed performance commitments.”