The ground stations in Perth and Merredin, Western Australia, have been enlarged with new antennas as part of Telstra’s expanding satellite telecommunications portfolio.
The initiative also forms part of the services to support the ground-breaking I-6 F1 satellite from Inmarsat which builds on a long-standing partnership between the two companies in Australia.
I-6 F1, the first of two Inmarsat-6 (I-6) satellites, will be launched from the JAXA Tanegashima Space Center in Japan in December 2021.
The satellites are intended to greatly improve both the narrowband ELERA network and the Global Xpress broadband service for Inmarsat subscribers around the world.
The I-6 satellites are the largest and most technologically advanced commercial communications satellites ever launched, providing customers in the maritime, aviation and agricultural industries among others with increased capacity, coverage and speeds.
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Telstra EMEA Managing Director Matt Williams said, “Inmarsat’s I-6 F1 and the new ground station have really moved the global ‘space race’ along and entrenched Australia’s position as a front runner in satellite communications.
“We delight in putting our skills, experience and access to global sites to use for ambitious global operators like Inmarsat, as they continue to revolutionise communications. This is just the tip of the iceberg of Telstra’s global projects underway.”
By establishing a vital connection between satellite and terrestrial networks, the new satellite access station (SAS) enables connectivity to be delivered instantly to its destinations around the world.
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Inmarsat Chief Operations Officer Jason Smith said, “The launch of I-6 F1 marks a further significant step in our visionary and fully funded technology roadmap, which will see the launch of a further six satellites by 2024 and a ground network expansion like no other.”
According to Smith, all of this is a part of their ground-breaking new ORCHESTRA network of networks, which anticipates and permanently satisfies worldwide client demand.
“The ground stations in Western Australia are a crucial part of our ambition to transform and enhance connectivity services and solutions for our mobility, government and Internet of Things customers worldwide,” Smith said.
Jaw de Guzman is the content producer for Comms Room, a knowledge platform and website aimed at assisting the communications industry and its professionals.