Global satellite-based broadband service provider SpeedCast International has signed a strategic partnership to provide Inmarsat’s new Fleet Xpress service to the global maritime industry.

UK-based telecommunication provider Inmarsat’s new Fleet Xpress is a broadband maritime communication service that provides high-speed broadband connectivity across oceans, as well as facilitating new connected ship applications.

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The deal has placed the Fleet Xpress service, powered by Global Xpress (GX) network, within SpeedCast’s maritime services portfolio, being fully included with the company’s current maritime SIGMA gateway and other value added services.

"Today’s announcement deepens our valuable partnership and we will work together to deliver the "Connected Ship"."

Over the next five years, SpeedCast will roll out Fleet Xpress to around 2,000 vessels.

Both SpeedCast and Inmarsat will also work together to promote Fleet Xpress services to existing and new maritime customers.

Inmarsat CEO Rupert Pearce said: "Today’s announcement deepens our valuable partnership and we will work together to deliver the "Connected Ship".

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"This new agreement with SpeedCast also significantly strengthens Inmarsat’s position in the global maritime business; a sector in which we have been the maritime connectivity leader for over 35 years, and this sector will continue to be an important focus for us."

Under the newly announced deal, SpeedCast will also position Inmarsat’s globally available FleetBroadband service as a back-up of choice for its maritime very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) services.

The collaboration allows Inmarsat to use the SpeedCast global Ku-band network for its Xpress link customers.

Through its various direct and indirect sales channels, Inmarsat aims to transit more than 2,600 existing XpressLink installations and convert its XpressLink backlog to Fleet Xpress over the next three years.

Recently, maritime communication and maritime VSAT operator Marlink entered into a strategic alliance with Inmarsat, through which Inmarsat’s new Fleet Xpress service will be integrated into Marlink’s existing service portfolio.

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