SWISSTO12
Inmarsat, a world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, has announced that SWISSto12, one of Europe’s fastest growing aerospace providers, will develop its new eighth-generation of spacecraft. The three I-8 satellites will provide additional network resilience, securing the future of Inmarsat’s global L-band safety services.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230519005018/en/
An illustration of SWISSto12's HummingSat in geostationary orbit. Image credit: SWISSto12
SWISSto12, headquartered in Switzerland, will use its HummingSat satellite platform - in conjunction with unique 3D-printing technologies and specialised Radio-Frequency (RF) and payload products - to develop and manufacture the geostationary satellites, which will launch by 2026.
Just 1.5 cubic metres in volume, the I-8’s will use SWISSto12’s innovative new class of spacecraft which has a form factor up to five times smaller than conventional geostationary satellites yet can still deliver critical safety services with certainty.
The three l-8 satellites will continue to provide the extra layer of resilience to complement the existing constellation and Inmarsat’s two I-6 generation satellites, which were launched in December 2021 and February 2023. In March 2023, Inmarsat announced the first, I-6 F1, had successfully completed testing with ground stations in Western Australia and has now started to provide Ka-band services for the fast-growing Asia Pacific region. The company will begin introducing its L-band capacity and transitioning services to the new satellite throughout 2023.
The second, I-6 F2, which launched in February 2023, is expected to enter operational service over Europe, Africa, and much of the Americas in early 2024.
Each I-8 will also extend Inmarsat’s history of launching and operating radionavigation transponders for Governments and international space agencies. These transponders can enable Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) services around the world, for example for air traffic controllers or coastguards. SBAS systems uses satellite connectivity, land-based infrastructure, and software to enhance standard GPS/Galileo accuracy of 5 to 10 metres to as little as just 10cm.
Such precise tracking could enable pinpoint safety navigation on aircraft, help emergency services reach vessels in distress more quickly, or allow a raft of industrial innovations, like device tracking in agriculture or advanced, automated transport management systems.
The I-8 satellites will continue to secure Inmarsat’s global safety services into the 2040’s. The company was founded in 1979 under the auspices of the United Nations specifically to provide highly reliable safety communications. Today some 1.6 million seafarers and over 200 airlines rely on Inmarsat’s global L-band network to deliver 99.9% availability every day.
The Inmarsat-8 programme forms part of Inmarsat’s fully-funded technology roadmap, which will include five new satellite payloads added by 2025 to further Inmarsat’s high-speed broadband Global Xpress (GX) network with the launch of the software defined satellites GX 7,8, and 9, aimed for 2025, and the polar coverage satellites GX10a and b, which are aimed for the first half of 2024.
Peter Hadinger, Chief Technology Officer, Inmarsat, said “Every single day people around the world depend on Inmarsat services. Our customers have demanding, and often safety critical, missions that rely on our satellite technology for links that can make the difference. The I-8’s will not only underpin our existing capabilities for the future; but enable ever more advanced safety innovations like SBAS that can ultimately help save more lives. We have chosen SWISSto12 because they have the ground-breaking technology that can make it a reality.”
Emile de Rijk, CEO, SWISSto12, said “We are delighted that Inmarsat has selected SWISSto12 as its partner for its landmark l-8 program. It demonstrates that, with HummingSat, we have created a highly-advanced new class of small geostationary spacecraft that delivers world-leading connectivity capabilities at a fraction of the cost. Our proprietary 3D-printing of Radio Frequency payload technology allows us to push the limits of existing capability and service new and existing business cases for geostationary satellite communications. This is an important step in our journey to better connect and protect every corner of the world.”
ENDS
ABOUT INMARSAT
Inmarsat delivers world leading, innovative, advanced and exceptionally reliable global, mobile communications across the world – in the air, at sea and on land - that are enabling a new generation of commercial, government and mission-critical services. Inmarsat is powering the digitalisation of the maritime industry, making operations more efficient and safer than ever before. It is driving a new era of inflight passenger services for aviation, while ensuring that aircraft can fly with maximum efficiency and safety. Furthermore, Inmarsat is enabling the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and enabling the next wave of world-changing technologies that will underpin the connected society and help build a sustainable future. And now Inmarsat is developing the first-of-its-kind, multi-dimensional communications network of the future, ORCHESTRA.
In November 2021, Inmarsat and Viasat announced the planned combination of the two companies, to create a new leader in global communications.
For further information, follow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram.
ABOUT SWISSto12
SWISSto12 is a leading manufacturer of advanced satellite payloads and systems, including the HummingSat: a small yet powerful geostationary telecommunications satellite developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) through its public-private-partnership program. The first commercial customer of HummingSat was announced in November 2022. The company’s satellites and payloads benefit from unique and patented 3D-printing technologies and associated Radio Frequency (RF) product designs that deliver lightweight, compact, highly performing, and competitive RF functionality. Besides its space portfolio, the company is also active in telecommunications, surveillance and radar applications for the aeronautic industry. SWISSto12 has developed commercially with success in Europe, the USA and Israel and is amongst the fastest growing aerospace companies in Europe. SWISSto12 spun off in 2011 from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), is privately owned and backed by prominent Swiss and European Investors.
For further information, visit https://swissto12.com
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230519005018/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Experian Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Identity Verification in Financial Services 2025 Vendor Assessment7.11.2025 15:00:00 CET | Press release
Advanced fraud prevention, multi-layered verification and innovative data-driven security solutions are core to Experian’s Ascend Platform™ Experian today announced it has been named a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Identity Verification in Financial Services 2025 Vendor Assessment (doc # US52985325, September 2025). The report evaluates vendors on the depth and breadth of their identity verification capabilities and on how effectively they align with current and future customer needs. The IDC MarketScape methodology for this assessment involved two key measures of success: capabilities that reflect Experian’s current menu of services and how well aligned they are to its customer needs as well as strategies that indicate how well Experian’s future strategy aligns with what customers will require in three to five years. “This assessment offers a 360-degree view of our identity-verification solutions, and we’re very proud to be recognized as a leader,” said Keith Little, Presid
Rachelle Alexis Lim is appointed CEO of MultiSafepay as the Company Aims to Better Serve European SMEs with Innovative Solutions7.11.2025 14:12:00 CET | Press release
Digital payments veteran Rachelle Alexis Lim now spearheads MultiSafepay’s operational strategy as it brings its innovative omnichannel payment platform to businesses of all sizes across Europe, driving inclusive growth for SMEs. Founder, Olaf Geurs, who has led MultiSafepay for nearly three decades will remain Chief Technology Officer and hold his position on the board of directors. In this role he will remain instrumental to driving innovation. Since the start of its strategic partnership with global payment and digitisation provider Antom, MultiSafepay's transaction volume has nearly doubled, and its merchant base has increased by over a quarter. MultiSafepay, a leading European payment service provider, today announces that Rachelle Alexis Lim has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MultiSafepay. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251107657130/en/ Rachelle Alexis Lim is appointed CEO of
Organon Announces Agreement to Divest its JADA® System for Up to $465 Million to Laborie7.11.2025 13:30:00 CET | Press release
Net proceeds will be applied to debt reduction, advancing Organon’s ongoing deleveraging effortsPositions Organon for future investment in growth opportunities with a focus on women’s health biopharma and other strategic prioritiesLaborie’s capabilities in medical technology will facilitate broader access to JADA for more mothers Organon (NYSE: OGN), (“Organon” or “the Company”) a global healthcare company with a mission to deliver impactful medicines and solutions for a healthier every day, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Laborie Medical Technologies Corp. (“Laborie”), a leading diagnostic and therapeutic medical technology company, for them to acquire the JADA System. The transaction, valued at up to $465 million, is comprised of $440 million to be paid at closing, subject to certain closing adjustments, and a potential payment of up to $25 million subject to the achievement of certain 2026 revenue targets. Approximately 100 employees are expected to transf
ADNOC Partners With Comera Financial Holdings to Empower Its UAE Suppliers and SMEs With Smart Financing Solutions7.11.2025 13:23:00 CET | Press release
Strategic partnership unlocks quick access to purchase order financing through an automated platformInitiative to enhance SME cash flow, strengthen supply chain resilience, and support UAE economic diversification ADNOC has signed a strategic partnership with Comera Financial Holdings to enhance financial access for ADNOC’s UAE-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and suppliers. The collaboration will launch a financing program, enabling SMEs and suppliers to access working capital more efficiently to enable them to more swiftly deliver on ADNOC purchase orders (PO). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251107458886/en/ ADNOC Partners with Comera Financial Holdings to Empower its UAE Suppliers and SMEs with Smart Financing Solutions (Photo: AETOSWire) The initiative will boost access to liquidity while enabling scalable operations and sustainable growth for the suppliers and SMEs. The partnership reinforces AD
Venture Global Announces New Long-Term LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement With Greece7.11.2025 11:47:00 CET | Press release
20-year sales and purchase agreement begins partnership with newly formed Greek entity to bolster Central and Eastern European energy securityDeal builds on Venture Global’s regasification capacity investment in the Alexandroupolis LNG import terminal to supply U.S. LNG to the region Today, Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE: VG) and ATLANTIC – SEE LNG TRADE S.A. of Greece announced the execution of a new Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) for the purchase of a minimum of 0.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Venture Global for twenty years starting in 2030. Under the SPA, Atlantic-See has the potential to expand its purchase commitment. Atlantic-See LNG is a newly formed joint venture announced this week at the 6th Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (PTEC) conference hosted in Athens, Greece between Greek companies AKTOR and DEPA. This deal marks Greece’s first ever long-term LNG supply agreement with a U.S. exporter, launching a dynamic an
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom