Inmarsat was the world's first global mobile satellite communications operator and is still the only one to offer a mature range of modern communications services to maritime, land-mobile, aeronautical and other users.

Formed as a maritime-focused intergovernmental organization over 20 years ago, Inmarsat has been a limited company since 1999, serving a broad range of markets. Starting with a user base of 900 ships in the early 1980s, it now supports links for phone, fax and data communications at up to 64kbit/s to more than 250,000 ship, vehicle, aircraft and portable terminals. That number is growing at several thousands a month.

  Inmarsat Ltd is a subsidiary of the Inmarsat Ventures PLC holding company. It operates a constellation of geo-stationary satellites designed to extend phone, fax and data communications all over the world. The constellation comprises five third-generation satellites backed up by four earlier spacecraft.

  The satellites are controlled from Inmarsat's headquarters in London, which is also home to Inmarsat Ventures as well as the small IGO created to supervise the company's public-service duties for the maritime community (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) and aviation (air traffic control communications). Inmarsat has regional offices in Dubai, Singapore and India.

  Today's Inmarsat system is used by independent service providers to offer a range of voice and multimedia communications. Users include ship owners and managers, journalists and broadcasters, health and disaster-relief workers, land transport fleet operators, airlines, airline passengers and air traffic controllers, government workers, national emergency and civil defense agencies, and peacekeeping forces.

  The Inmarsat business strategy is to pursue a range of new opportunities at the convergence of information technology, telecoms and mobility while continuing to serve traditional maritime, aeronautical, land-mobile and remote-area markets.

  Keystone of the strategy is the new Inmarsat I-4 satellite system, which from 2005 will support the Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (B-GAN) - mobile data communications at up to 432kbit/s for Internet access, mobile multimedia and many other advanced applications.