Cobham receives Inmarsat type approval for new terminals

Cobham Explorer 323 and Explorer 6075LX terminals receive Inmarsat type approval

Two Cobham SATCOM land satellite terminals have received Inmarsat type approval. The low-profile vehicular Cobham Explorer 323 BGAN terminal and the auto-point “fly-away” Cobham Explorer 6075LX VSAT terminal are now fully operational on the Inmarsat network with commercial shipments of each beginning immediately.

Explorer-323. (Photo: Cobham)

The new Explorer 323 terminal represents the first class 12, electronically steerable terminal for use on Inmarsat’s L-band Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN). It combines the slimmest form factor of any vehicular BGAN terminal with a number of new innovative features and sets a new standard in robustness due to its lack of moving parts. In conjunction with Inmarsat’s highly reliable network, offering up to 99.9% uptime, it promises a new standard in mobile communications to organisations operating in remote locations across a wide array of industries.

The class 12 terminal features speeds of up to 384kbps, support for BGAN (data and voice) and BGAN M2M (data) operations, and an integrated antenna and receiver, meaning only a rooftop unit is needed. Additionally, the Explorer 323 has an integrated Wi-Fi Hotspot for setup, management and data access. Developed to integrate seamlessly with Cobham’s PRISM PTT+ offering, the Explorer 323 will enable telemetry and voice communications as well as other uses in remote rail operations, utilities, mining, aid and NGO operations, agriculture, public safety and emergency response.

Explorer-6075. (Photo: Cobham)

Inmarsat has also approved the new auto-point ‘fly-away’ 0.75m Cobham Explorer 6075LX VSAT terminal for its high-speed Ka-band Global Xpress service. The new terminal offers the most reliable and stable connection in its class and features a simplified design, enhanced usability, quick setup and built-in WiFi. With a dynamic auto-pointing correction the terminal maintains its connection even in windy conditions or when pushed or moved, optimising its connection constantly. The Explorer 6075LX also features a considerable reduction in weight versus the Explorer 5075GX for greater portability and will support high-bandwidth applications in broadcasting, resilience and field-office operation.

“We are proud to offer these two game-changing terminals to our partners and customers,” said Mike Carter, president of Inmarsat Enterprise. “Their launch follows an important period of industry consultation, innovation and collaboration between Cobham and Inmarsat. With the Explorer 323 ideal for vehicular tracking and communications and the Explorer 6075 optimised for high-bandwidth operations, both terminals improve upon their predecessors and are set to make ultra-reliable connectivity easier to access in the remotest areas, wherever it is needed most.”

“These two new terminals from Cobham prove that there continues to be innovation occurring in both our L-band and Global Xpress networks,” said Todd McDonell, president of Inmarsat Global Government. “For government users, the 6075LX (or GX6075) provides a fast to set up, easy-to-use, automatic acquisition broadband terminal ideal for first responders who need to access communications at a scene quickly.

“In addition, the Explorer 323 provides government users with a way to maintain on-the-move connectivity regardless of the situation,” McDonell said. “When fixed networks become disabled or degraded, due to events such as natural disasters, the Explorer 323 provides an ideal, low-profile system for routing radio and data connectivity and can be integrated with the emergency services’ existing radio and data networks. We thank Cobham for bringing these products to market. We believe that they will help to deliver new capability for a number of government departments and agencies.”

Inmarsat owns and operates mobile telecommunications satellite networks around the globe, and holds a multi-layered, global spectrum portfolio covering L-band, Ka-band and S-band.

Inmarsat has provided global, L-band services for many decades, which are used by governments, the maritime and aviation industries, and commercial users on land, in sectors ranging from mining and agriculture to rail and transportation.

The frequencies used by Inmarsat to deliver these services are different to those used for GPS/GNSS. All terminals approved for use over Inmarsat’s L-band network (and their other networks) conform to international standards.

In the case of GPS, Inmarsat has exceed these standards by a considerable margin.