Satellite Service Alliance Between Inmarsat & Cisco

 Global Xpress (GX) video & multi-media content to be delivered by alliance of Inmarsat and Cisco.

Cisco will provide Inmarsat with a state-of-the-art satellite applications service delivery platform and a high-performance access network for GX, its new superfast global broadband system launching in 2014.

The world leader in networking solutions, Cisco will also develop a router for end-users that give them access to both the BGAN network and Global Xpress.

Cisco will build and operate the network on a fully managed basis before transferring it to Inmarsat. This GX/BGAN integrated platform will allow Inmarsat and its partners to rapidly develop and remotely deploy innovative applications, and it will also extend the reach of new services across the entire Inmarsat network.

Rob Lloyd, President of Development and Sales for Cisco, said: "The collaboration between Inmarsat and Cisco truly augments Cisco's vision of any device, anytime, anywhere. Imagine watching on-demand TV in an aircraft, using TelePresence [Cisco's business video conferencing service] on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean, or accessing cost-effective HDTV broadcasting from any location. We are truly excited about the possibilities this unique alliance creates."

Scheduled for service introduction in 2014, the service delivery platform and satellite network router will offer unprecedented data rates and bandwidth, backed by Inmarsat's quality standards, performance and global reach and providing the same experience as terrestrial broadband.

GX will be the only hybrid Ka and L-band network designed to provide consistent global coverage.