EADS Astrium said it has completed the production and test of the first Inmarsat-4 satellite. The satellite is based on EADS Astrium’s Eurostar E3000 satellite platform. The satellite is part of Inmarsat‘s forthcoming Broadband Global Area Network, which will provide users with broadband connectivity at speeds of up to 432 kbps. It will carry more than 200 spotbeams as well as 19 wide beams. The beams will operate in the C- and L-bands.

EADS Astrium said the satellite left its Toulouse, France, manufacturing facility on Feb. 5 and is on its way to Cape Canaveral, FL, for its scheduled March 10 launch. The satellite will be located at 65 degrees East and has a design life of 10 years, with a target 13- year mission life.