SWISSTO12
19.5.2023 14:01:34 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
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
Does Muscle Composition Identify High-Risk Individuals in Chronic Kidney Disease? New AMRA Medical Study Says Yes, Reveals Strong Link to Mortality23.4.2026 17:10:00 CEST | Press release
AMRA Medical researchers recently set out to answer the question: what is the relationship between adverse muscle composition (AMC) and mortality in kidney disease? Recent findings demonstrate that AMC, characterized by low muscle volume z-score and high muscle fat infiltration, is an independent and strong predictor of all-cause mortality in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The findings, published in Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, were based on data from the UK Biobank imaging study and further reinforce the clinical relevance of MRI-derived muscle biomarkers in identifying high-risk populations across chronic diseases. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260423198497/en/ AMRA's MRI-based muscle biomarkers in clinical trials Researchers from AMRA, alongside our collaborators at Linköping University (LiU), analyzed 894 participants with CKD using AMRA’s MRI-based body composi
Diligent Unveils AI Board Member and Agentic GRC Workforce at Elevate 202623.4.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
Diligent’s agentic AI strengthens board oversight and transforms how GRC teams work — reducing manual effort and outside-advisor dependency, tightening control over sensitive workflows and enabling leaders to make faster, more defensible decisions Diligent, the AI leader in governance, risk and compliance (GRC) SaaS solutions, today unveiled a new generation of autonomous AI agents, including AI Board Member — a secure AI assistant for directors — and a coordinated network of agents embedded across the Diligent One Platform. Accessible through a single command center, agents automate multi-step workflows across governance, risk, compliance and third-party management, giving organizations the impact of a “GRC manager” without adding headcount. “AI supercharges teams that embrace it, and boards are no exception,” said Brian Stafford, President and CEO of Diligent. “With AI Board Member and a network of autonomous agents woven through the Diligent One Platform, we’re giving the C-suite an
Safe Software Bolsters Leadership Team with CFO and CPO Appointments to Drive Next Phase of Growth23.4.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
CFO and CPO executive hires to enhance operational and financial performance on the company’s path to $250M by 2028 Safe Software (Safe), creator of FME, the only All-Data, Any-AI enterprise integration platform, today welcomes two executives to its leadership team as it moves into the next phase of growth. Judd Lee has been appointed as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Vanessa Ribreau has been appointed as Chief People Officer (CPO). Having recently crossed $100M in revenue, the expanded leadership team will further enable the company to scale as it accelerates toward its goal of reaching $250M in revenue by 2028. Judd Lee is a seasoned CFO with over 15 years of experience partnering closely with CEOs to align financial strategy and accelerate sustainable growth. He is known for his strong commitment to mentorship and for building high-performing global teams rooted in trust, morale and a shared sense of purpose. With more than two decades of financial leadership acros
Corpay Cross-Border Named the Official FX Supplier of Toulouse Football Club23.4.2026 14:30:00 CEST | Press release
Providing access to currency risk management and cross-border payments solutions Corpay, Inc.*, (NYSE: CPAY) a global leader in corporate payments, is pleased to announce that Corpay’s Cross-Border business has entered into an agreement with Toulouse Football Club to become their Official Foreign Exchange (FX) Supplier. A partnership brought together by SPORTFIVE, an international sports marketing agency. Through this partnership, Corpay Cross-Border will deliver comprehensive FX risk management solutions to support Toulouse Football Club’s operations. In addition, its award-winning platform will enable the club to manage global payments seamlessly through a single point of access. “Corpay Cross-Border is proud to be named the Official FX Supplier of Toulouse Football Club,” said Brad Loder, Chief Marketing Officer, Corpay Cross-Border Solutions. “This partnership reinforces Corpay’s position as a leading provider of corporate payments and currency risk management solutions within prof
Philip Morris International Expands its Partnership with Ducati Corse as Decades-Long Partnership Races Forward with Purpose23.4.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
ZYN branding to be present at select MotoGP races in the 2026 season and beyond Philip Morris International1 (NYSE: PM) today announced an expanded partnership with Ducati Corse for the 2026 season and beyond. This next chapter introduces a major development: the ZYN brand of nicotine pouches—the number one nicotine pouch brand globally2—will feature on Ducati Corse MotoGP liveries at select races throughout the seasons. Just as Ducati pushes the limits of performance, ZYN represents PMI’s commitment to delivering innovation, offering a product that delivers exceptional quality while being thoughtfully designed. This partnership allows ZYN to connect with adult consumers in a space they’re passionate about—and to do so in a way that’s authentic, respectful, and dynamic. Philip Morris International’s relationship with Ducati Corse began in 2003—the year Ducati arrived in MotoGP—ushering in a bold new era of ambition. Since then, the collaboration has evolved alongside both organizations
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