Mackay – Inmarsat Global Fleet Xpress Partners – Comprehensive Airtime Service & Installation-Service Providers
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Raleigh, NC, USA Oct. 17, 2017. . . Mackay Communications, Inc.®, a worldwide marine electronics and airtime service provider, is proud to announce it has signed a Partner agreement with Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT.L) to distribute its award-winning Fleet Xpress service to the global maritime market including deep sea vessels, commercial fishing, oil and gas, defense, and cruise-passenger lines. Mackay will offer a complete end-to-end Fleet Xpress package including the full range of Fleet Xpress airtime service options and choice of approved antennas. The partnership will also include a global 24/7 installation and service agreement; leveraging Mackay’s technical expertise to support the rapidly growing installation and conversion opportunities for Fleet Xpress systems in ports worldwide.
“Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service delivers seamless and reliable global connectivity at high-speeds, with automatic and unlimited fail-over to FleetBroadband when needed, and all for a predictable flat monthly rate. This is what our customers need to operate their business efficiently, while contributing to the health and welfare of their crews,” comments Matthew Krupinski, Director of Satellite Services at Mackay Communications.
“The Fleet Xpress partnership enables Mackay to offer customers a “future-proof” communications package – unique in the maritime industry providing global high-speed coverage, dual Ka and L band antennas for continuous connectivity, together with speeds and service guarantees previously only available with much larger, high-power antennas,” states Kai Madsen, Marine Sales Manager at Mackay Communications.
“Mackay has been a long standing Inmarsat partner and over the 30 year relationship they have invested in and developed a strong and talented team of specialists to support the evolving needs of the maritime market,” comments Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Chief Sales Officer, Inmarsat Maritime. “Fleet Xpress is more than just a satellite communications service, the double award winning service is powering a data revolution, bringing unrivalled vessel efficiency and communication benefits to crew. We are setting a new standard in maritime communications and we’re excited Mackay is joining our Fleet Xpress partner network.”
Fleet Xpress customers will benefit from Mackay’s expertise in satellite communication systems and reputation as a turn-key integrator for new-build and retro-fit customers of all vessel classes. Mackay’s dedicated Satellite Services Division provides 24/7 technical system support, consolidated billing, and a team to advise on terminal and airtime plans to match client requirements and budget.
Combining Inmarsat’s cutting-edge technology with Mackay’s extensive marine and offshore customer base, solution-focus integration expertise, and worldwide service, is a powerful formula to enhance the adoption of Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service.
About Mackay Mackay Communications, Inc.® (dba Mackay Marine) sells, installs, and services communication and navigation equipment on board ships. Mackay, in business for over 125 years, has 3,000+ customers spread over every continent, employs 300 professionals, with locations in more than 30 major ports. Mackay World Service coordinates service, installation and inspections 24/7 for all ports, worldwide. For more information visit: https://www.mackaycomm.com
About Inmarsat Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat operates around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ISAT.L). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com.
About Fleet Xpress Fleet Xpress delivers a unique, fully integrated dual capability of high speed, high capacity Global Xpress service together with high reliability safety-level services (FleetBroadband) in a single commercial package which is available anywhere in the world. Fleet Xpress is further enriched by Inmarsat Gateway, a unique service enablement platform designed to provide ship owners, managers and operators with access to a new generation of value-added maritime applications, services and solutions.
Inmarsat’s maritime channel Partners include all the leading maritime communications resellers, providing global reach, customer intimacy and value-added capabilities in support of Fleet Xpress, and a well-managed pathway for Inmarsat’s current FleetBroadband customers to migrate over time up to Fleet Xpress.
In 2017 Fleet Xpress won the Smart4Sea Excellent Award for technological excellence in smart shipping.
About Global Xpress Global Xpress (GX) has been delivering seamless, high-speed broadband connectivity all around the world since December 2015.
The GX constellation is now made up of four Ka-band, high-speed mobile broadband communications satellites, following the launch of Inmarsat-5 F4. Each I-5 satellite is expected to have a commercial life of 15 years.
The first three I-5 satellites were launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and together they provide the coverage required to deliver global GX services:
I-5 F1 – launched on 6 December 2013 to serve Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia
I-5 F2 – launched on 1 February 2015 to serve the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean Region
I-5 F3 – launched on 28 August 2015 to serve the Pacific Ocean Region.
As part of Inmarsat’s US$1.6 billion programme commitment, the fourth Global Xpress satellite (I-5 F4) was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA on 15 May 2017 to provide additional capacity. It will become operational later in 2017.
Designed to provide a consistent user experience, from the equipment used at a remote location to the service delivered through the pioneering satellite and ground network, Global Xpress can be a stand-alone complete high-speed broadband solution.
