Inmarsat and Actia Sodielec have signed a Memorandum of Arrangement (MOA) to facilitate the type approval of tactical Ka-band satellite terminal systems for use by the French military on Inmarsat’s ground breaking, high-capacity Global Xpress (GX) service.

Actia Sodielec is Airbus’s contracted satellite terminal provider under the COMCEPT programme, delivering Ka-band communications capability to the French Military for use on the Athena Fidus satellite. The signing of the MOA with Inmarsat facilitates type approval to operate Actia Sodielec terminals on Inmarsat’s GX commercial Ka-band service, which will significantly increase the French military’s operational capability and mobility. By combining the existing Athena Fidius satellite service with that of the Inmarsat GX network, deployed French military users around the world will benefit from the provision of significantly increased geographical coverage.

“We are delighted to be announcing this new collaboration with Actia Sodielec,” said Andy Start, President, Inmarsat Global Government. “We believe that the ability of Global Xpress to complement existing military satellite services is key to increasing the capability of deployed personnel.”