Introduction to INMARSAT

Abstract

This chapter reviews International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT), its unique and somewhat complex origins and history as a treaty‐based organization, as well as its business and services through 1999. Between 1979 and 1999, US participation in the INMARSAT Organization was defined by law, regulation, and precedent. Under the INMARSAT structure, the international organization did not itself own or operates any of the earth stations that connected to the INMARSAT satellites. These earth stations, generically called land earth stations (LESs), were the link between the satellite network owned by the INMARSAT Organization and the terrestrial telephone, data, and telex networks. As with other sectors of the telecommunications industry, common carriage in the INMARSAT system was separated from terminal equipment manufacturing. The chapter briefly reviews INMARSAT maritime safety services and then the main commercial services. The intermediate circular orbit (ICO) selected for the satellite system that ICO Global would use.