EMS Technologies Inc., through its Space & Technology/Montreal
division, announced today that it has recently delivered the last of three
Inmarsat-4 L-Band Antenna Feeds to Astrium Limited in Portsmouth, England.
These antenna feed arrays are designed, manufactured and tested by EMS
Technologies for the Inmarsat-4 program. The Inmarsat-4 antennas are highly
complex, Passive Intermodulation (PIM)-free, 120 element, combined
transmit/receive L-Band arrays. PIM is a significant technical issue on any
high-power satellite, particularly those that provide mobile satellite
services, and the reduction and elimination of PIM is among EMS’ core
competencies.
The Inmarsat-4 Antennas have been designed to support high-speed (up to
432 kbit/s) mobile Internet access, video-on-demand, video-conferencing, fax
and e-mail for companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia through
the INMARSAT Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) program.
EMS’ multi-element cup-helix L-Band antenna feeds are considered to be one
of the most challenging subsystems of the INMARSAT BGAN program. “EMS has a
long heritage in high-performance multi-element antenna feeds for mobile
satellite communications. This heritage was a key factor in the selection of
EMS to supply these critical spacecraft components,” said Dr. Gerry Bush,
president, EMS Space & Technology Group.
In a final acceptance report, our customers commented: “Inmarsat and
Astrium would like to congratulate EMS on a very successful project. The L-
Band feed is a magnificent piece of engineering in which EMS should be justly
proud.”
About ASTRIUM
ASTRIUM is wholly owned by EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space
Company. With 7200 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and
Spain, Astrium’s satellite business activities cover complete civil and
military telecommunications and Earth observation systems, science and
navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment.
About Inmarsat Limited
Inmarsat Ltd owns and operates a unique global mobile satellite network
and delivers its communications solutions through a worldwide network of
approximately 260 distributors and other service providers operating in over
80 countries to end users in the maritime, land and aeronautical sectors.
Inmarsat Ltd. has a portfolio of mobile satellite solutions, including voice,
fax, intranet and Internet access and other data services. Inmarsat Ltd. has
more than 23 years of experience in designing, implementing and operating
satellite networks. At the end of May 2003, approximately 275,000 terminals
were registered to access Inmarsat Ltd.’s services. Inmarsat Ltd. is also
supported by partners in the fields of equipment manufacture, software
provision and systems integration. Inmarsat Ltd. is a subsidiary of Inmarsat
Ventures plc. Inmarsat is the exclusive global partner of the FIA World Rally
Championship.
Visit http://www.inmarsat.com for more information.
About EMS Technologies, Inc.
EMS Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator in the design and
manufacture of space, airborne and terrestrial wireless solutions, and focuses
its unique range of advanced technologies on the needs of broadband and mobile
information users. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, employs
approximately 1,700 people worldwide, and has manufacturing facilities in
Atlanta, Ottawa, Montreal, the UK and Brazil.
The Satellite Networks Division of EMS Technologies has played a critical
role in the development of the DVB-RCS international open standard for high
speed bi-directional Internet communications via satellite, and is a leading
provider of broadband satellite communications ground terminal and hub
solutions.
For more information, visit the company on the World Wide Web at
www.ems-t.com .
