Inmarsat systems and services

This paper presents an overview of the current status and future development of mobile satellite communications services in the Inmarsat system. The evolution of user terminals from the original Inmarsat-A ship earth station for mariners to the global satellite paging system and hand held telephone for anyone on the move is a focal point of this discussion. The Inmarsat-A system and the variety of its applications and services continue to be Inmarsat's prime revenue generator. The growing family of new Inmarsat systems and services are increasingly contributing to the expanding markets, traffic and revenues for mobile satellite services around the world. This include Inmarsat-C, a data messaging system using small, portable terminals and Inmarsat's aeronautical satellite communications system as well as the newest additions-Inmarsat-M, which brings to the world a low-cost, portable satellite phone service and Inmarsat-B, a digital successor to Inmarsat-A.