Inmarsat to Launch Fourth Global Xpress Satellite

Inmarsat5 F1 and F2. Photo: Inmarsat

[Via Satellite 03-03-2016] Inmarsat has decided to launch the fourth Global Xpress satellite, originally procured from Boeing as a spare but with the potential to support an incremental business case, in the latter part of 2016.

The operator announced intentions to orbit the satellite with its full year financial results March 3, stating that the company is exploring a number of different orbital locations, business opportunities and related revenues for this satellite. Following the decision to launch, Inmarsat has adjusted its 2018 revenue outlook. Inmarsat expects that group revenues, excluding those from LightSquared, will increase to between $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion in 2016, and will reach between $1.45 billion and $1.6 billion in 2018, mainly as a result of Global Xpress.

The $500 million targeted annual revenue run-rate for Global Xpress revenues by the end of 2020, the fifth anniversary of the global launch of commercial services, remains unchanged pending a decision on the orbital slot and business plan for I-5 F4 later this year.

Inmarsat’s total revenue was flat for 2015 at $1.274 billion compared to $1.275 billion in 2014. Government revenues saw a 10.4 percent drop, but aeronautical connectivity largely offset this decline with 25.4 percent growth.