27 September 2016: Inmarsat has formally unveiled its strategic partnership with Turkish state-owned regional satellite operator Türksat in Ankara on 27 September.

The companies initially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March 2016 to explore the opportunities available through the formation of a strategic partnership, initially focused on defence, public safety and aviation.

^{Inmarsat CEO Rupert Pearce and Türksat CEO Cenk Şen at the strategic partneership event in Ankara}

The strategic partnership event, attended by the Turkish Minister of Transport Maritime Affairs and Communications, Ahmet Arslan, Türksat CEO Cenk Şen and Inmarsat CEO Rupert Pearce, outlined Inmarsat’s intent to bring high-value, space-based communications to develop a digital society in Turkey – on land, at sea and in the air.

Digital society

Inmarsat CEO Rupert Pearce said:

“Our strategic partnership offers tremendous potential, both for Inmarsat and Türksat, as well as our joint business and technology ecosystem in Turkey, and of course for the wider Turkish economy.

“Inmarsat and Türksat will be very well-placed to collaborate to bring cutting-edge, high value-added, space-based communications capabilities to Turkish government, enterprise and consumer users in the years ahead – making a vital contribution to the development of a pervasive digital society in Turkey.

“We’ve invested more than $4 billion in new capabilities and continue to invest in excess of $500 million a year in research and development in order to serve our customers better. We are confident that our partnership with Türksat will powerfully support the development of a high-tech, high-skills satellite services sector in Turkey.

Important opportunity

Over 400 Turkish government decision makers and customers at the event had an opportunity to see Inmarsat’s satellite services on display, including Global Xpress, BGAN, L-TAC, FleetBroadband and IsatPhone 2.

Minister of Transport Maritime Affairs and Communications Ahmet Arslan said:

“With the strategic partnership between TurkSat and Inmarsat, some high-value added Inmarsat equipment would be produced in Turkey by one or more Turkish firms. It is an important opportunity.”

Türksat described the relationship as a “strategic decision for our country” that would, among other benefits, help provide an alternative means of communication during disasters and emergencies.

Technology transfer

“We are not aiming at only business relations with Inmarsat. One of our targets is technology transfer to our country. In this sense, Inmarsat’s fourth land station for satellite services will be established in Turkey,” said Türksat CEO Cenk Şen.

“We also have been working on providing broadband Internet services on airplanes with Inmarsat capabilities. This partnership will assist the qualified internet services for passengers of Turkish Airlines.”