Navarino commits over 1,200 vessels onto new Fleet Xpress service

4 August 2016 – New service unlocks the potential of the ‘Connected Ship’ to enhance vessel performance and crew welfare.

Navarino, one of the world’s leading providers of satellite communications solutions to the merchant marine market, has entered into a new agreement with Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT.L) to integrate Fleet Xpress into Navarino’s existing service portfolio. Through the agreement, Navarino will bring more than 1,200 vessels to the Fleet Xpress service over a six-year period.

Fleet Xpress, the Global Xpress maritime solution, sets a new standard in broadband maritime communications. The service delivers the highest levels of reliable high-speed broadband connectivity and exceptional performance across all of the world’s oceans as well as facilitating innovative ‘Connected Ship’ applications.

Navarino has a global reputation for providing high quality satellite communications products and services for the maritime industry, including the Infinity solution with a client base of more than 500 shipping companies worldwide and covering all types of merchant vessels. It has an established and steadily growing international resellers’ network, and offers installation capability at major ports around the world, fully supported by strategically-located certified technical centres.

“This is a significant agreement for Inmarsat and our new Fleet Xpress service,” said Ronald Spithout, President of Inmarsat Maritime. “As a major Inmarsat partner, we are delighted that Navarino shares our vision for Fleet Xpress. Together with our partners, we are making the concept of the ‘Connected Ship’ a reality; delivering operational and crew welfare benefits that can make vessels more efficient, competitive and profitable. Today’s announcement deepens our valuable partnership and underscores Inmarsat’s position in the global maritime business.”

“Extending our strategic alliance with Inmarsat to bring Fleet Xpress to our portfolio represents a natural progression in a cooperation positioning Navarino at the cutting edge of maritime satellite communications,” said Dimitris Tsikopoulos CEO Navarino. “Both companies are committed to growing maritime broadband for diverse customer requirements, and to the investments and support needed to nurture this exciting market.”

About Fleet Xpress

Fleet Xpress delivers a unique, fully integrated dual capability of high speed, high capacity services (Global Xpress) together with high reliability safety-level services (FleetBroadband) in a single commercial package which is available anywhere in the world. Fleet Xpress is further enriched by Inmarsat Gateway, a unique service enablement platform designed to provide ship owners, managers and operators with access to a new generation of value-added maritime applications, services and solutions.

Fleet Xpress will be taken to market through Inmarsat’s powerful and committed direct and indirect sales channels. Inmarsat Maritime, Inmarsat’s direct maritime sales arm, intends to transition more than 2,600 existing XpressLink installations to Fleet Xpress, and to convert its substantial committed XpressLink backlog, to Fleet Xpress over the next three years.

Inmarsat’s maritime channel partners include all the leading maritime communications resellers, providing global reach, customer intimacy and value-added capabilities in support of Fleet Xpress, and a well-managed pathway for Inmarsat’s current FleetBroadband customers to migrate over time up to Fleet Xpress.

About Inmarsat

Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat employs around 1,600 staff in more than 60 locations around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ISAT.L).

The Inmarsat press release newsfeed and corporate updates are on @InmarsatGlobal.

About Navarino
Navarino is a highly specialised integrator, developer and distributor of communications services focused exclusively in the merchant shipping sector. Founded in 1996, the company has grown into one of the major distributors of Inmarsat services worldwide, with offices in UK, Greece, Cyprus, Belgium, Norway, Singapore and Hong Kong. In addition to its airtime services, Navarino has a strong portfolio of Value Added Solutions and is the developer of Infinity, the maritime bandwidth management and optimisation solution to enhance the communication capabilities of its customers. Furthermore, Navarino is a distributor for the leading satellite communication hardware manufacturers, and has a global installation and on board service network that covers every continent. For more information, please visit www.navarino.gr