UK-based Aero-Satcom is now a Value Added Reseller (VAR) of the Inmarsat Global Xpress (GX) high speed Ka-band service, in the wake of an agreement just signed with the satellite communications provider. Aero-Satcom will begin provisioning a fleet of Europe-based head-of-state aircraft this month, the company reported. The fleet retrofit is expected to be completed and fully operational by the end of February.

Aero-Satcom, a joint venture between France’s Eclipse and the UK’s NSSLGlobal, will add value to the core GX service by supporting the delivery of onboard solutions developed by Eclipse that provide onboard bandwidth management, bandwidth optimization, and credit card payments for passenger internet access.

Shaun Flanagan, Aero-Satcom sales director, noted, “The aero global government market rarely wants a ‘standard’ package, and values the expertise of Aero-Satcom to add value through custom technologies that help them get the most from their data. Our ability to access a satcom laboratory installation of the aeronautical satcom system that supports Global Xpress gives Aero-Satcom a big advantage in terms of better supporting customer demonstrations and developing these kinds of custom-specific applications.”

Aero-Satcom aims to meet the market need for an all-around aeronautical satellite communications company “that bridges the gap between two complex industries: the government aircraft industry and government sector mobile satellite services,” according to the company.

Andy Start, president, Inmarsat Global Government, said Aero-Satcom “plays an important role in helping us roll out GX to this highly specialized market.”