Inmarsat has launched a new satellite which is 60 times more powerful than its predecessors the Inmarsat-3 satellites.

The first Inmarsat-4 satellite is the size of a London double-decker bus and weighs six tons. The I-4 satellite is one of the largest and most powerful commercial satellites ever launched.

Inmarsat intends to launch a second I-4 satellite later this year. That is when its new Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service, an IP and circuit-switched service offering high-bandwidth services, including internet access, and LAN at speeds of up to 432kbit/s.

Yachting Monthly, 14 March 2005