14th May 2009 11:37
INMARSAT WINS EUROPEAN S-BAND SPECTRUM AWARD
14 May 2009, London, UK: Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, today confirmed it has been selected by the European Commission (EC) to operate a Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) system in Europe under the co-ordinated European S-Band Application Process. Under the EC award announcement, Inmarsat has received an award for operations using 30MHz (2x15MHz) of S-band radio spectrum. Inmarsat was one of two awardees announced by the EC today and the total authorisations were for 60MHz of S-band radio spectrum.
Inmarsat's S-band satellite programme, known as EuropaSat, aims to deliver next-generation telecommunications services across all 27 member states of the European Union - and as far east as Moscow and Ankara - by means of a hybrid satellite/terrestrial network. These new services are expected to include mobile multimedia broadcast, mobile broadband and next-generation MSS services for consumers, enterprise and institutional users throughout Europe, including those in remote and rural areas.
Inmarsat has already assembled a world-class set of partnerships with third parties to provide essential design and manufacturing services, technology and infrastructure support, including Thales Alenia Space for the EuropaSat satellite, International Launch Services for the launch vehicle, and a number of leading suppliers of ground segment services and end user products.
"We would like to congratulate the European Commission on its effective, innovative and fair approach to making the pan-European S-band awards," said Rupert Pearce, Senior Vice President, Inmarsat Enterprises. Pearce commented, "We are delighted to be the recipient of this award, which we regard as an essential prerequisite supporting our ambitions to continue to be at the forefront of mobile satellite service innovation in Europe and to drive growth in our business and to create value for our shareholders. On the back of this award, we will look to pursue the commercial partnerships necessary to ensure that the returns from the required investment in our S-band programme will generate acceptable returns on capital without undue risks or uncertainties."
For information, please contact:
Simon Ailes: +44 20 7728 1518
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include: general economic and business conditions; changes in technology; timing or delay in signing, commencement, implementation and performance of programmes, or the delivery of products or services under them; structural change in the satellite industry; relationships with customers; competition; and ability to attract personnel. You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances.
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