Describing it as a “communications network of the future”, Orchestra will bring together Inmarsat’s existing geosynchronous (GEO) satellites with low earth orbit satellites (LEO) and terrestrial 5G into an integrated system.
As part of its development, the company is planning to add 150 to 170 satellites to its existing fleet, investing $100 million over the coming five years.
“An orchestra brings different instruments together, each supporting the other and playing its role in the masterpiece. We’re building Orchestra on the same concept,” said CEO Rajeev Suri (right). “By combining the distinct qualities of GEO, LEO and 5G into a single network, we will deliver a service that is far greater than the sum of its parts. Our customers will benefit from dramatically expanded high throughput services around the world. This is the future of connectivity and Inmarsat is perfectly positioned to bring it to the world with its proven technology expertise, right base of customers and partners, and financial strength.”
The UK satellite operator describes it as a “global, multi-dimensional, dynamic mesh network” that will “redefine connectivity at scale with the highest capacity for mobility worldwide and at hot spots”.
It also promises the fastest average speeds and the lowest average latency of any network.
The idea is that the system’s design means that it can boost capacity in high-density areas – such as ports and airports – to ensure meeting customer demands into the future.
The company writes:
In the largest ever transformation of Inmarsat’s market-leading services, ORCHESTRA will be a seamless configuration of our L-band and Global Xpress (GX) networks with terrestrial 5G, targeted low earth orbit (LEO) capacity, and dynamic mesh technologies, to create a single advanced solution for global mobility.
This revolutionary layered approach is designed to meet the accelerating bandwidth requirements of more diverse, demanding and ever more widely adopted applications in the commercial and government mobility markets. By drawing on the unique capabilities of each component, it will deliver high performance connectivity everywhere, while eliminating the longstanding industry-wide challenge of congestion at high demand hot spots, like busy ports, airports, sea canals and flight corridors, for good.
You can read more about Orchestra here.