Developers invited to join new ‘space race’ at IDC 16

26 November 2015: Inmarsat is to hold its second annual Inmarsat Developer Conference (IDC 16) at the Park Plaza Hotel in London on 29 February to 1 March 2016, following the highly successful inaugural event.

Software, hardware and application developers are invited to come along and hear from prominent industry experts, including Ford and SpaceX, and to discover more about the latest development opportunities for the creation of innovative solutions utilising Inmarsat’s L-band and Global Xpress (Ka-band) networks.

“Inmarsat is investing $1.6bn in its new satellite communications constellation and ground network,” said Michele Franci, Chief Technology Officer, Inmarsat.

New frontier

“Satellite communications can greatly enhance and extend the delivery of high-speed broadband services but we believe that large satellite infrastructure investments are only part of the story when it comes to delivering innovative communications anywhere in the world.

“Taking satellite services to end-users in the form of software, hardware and applications is just as important as the infrastructure on which they’re based. It’s for this reason we are focused on forging new partnerships for innovation and growth by building a thriving developer community.”

Inmarsat’s open technology strategy, announced in January this year at the first IDC, has given the growing developer community the freedom to utilise Inmarsat technologies to develop innovative and bespoke applications, based on cutting edge technology. The latest development opportunities are set to be unveiled at the industry event next year.

Connected car

Featured on the agenda, Scott Lyons of Ford Connected Vehicle & Services Organisation, will deliver the keynote speech on “what does the connected car really mean for today’s drivers?” In his speech Scott will describe Ford’s vision for the connected car, specifically related to driver safety.

The President and COO of SpaceX, Gwynne Shotwell, will also attend IDC 16 and will take part in a “fireside chat” with Michele Franci to discuss where they think satellite communications will be in 30 years’ time.

During the two-day event, over 500 software, hardware and application developers will have the opportunity to respond to many new Inmarsat development opportunities, among these, to mention a few, are aircraft data in the cloud, fisheries apps for Fleet One and BGAN terminals dedicated to IoT.

The Conference will consist of technical sessions, hands-on workshops, briefings on the satellite communications industry and existing Inmarsat developer stories.