History Timeline for Inmarsat

Originally Inmarsat was founded as the International Maritime Satellite Organization (IMSO) as a non-profit organization in 1979.  It was a self financing body formed to improve maritime communication and improve safety of life at sea.  From the start the acronym “Inmarsat” was used. 

• In 1982 Inmarsat satellite services were established.  In the beginning they used space resources leased from third parties. 
• In 1989 Inmarsat worked with the European Space Agency on its Navsat system studies.  This led to the development of specifications for navigation payloads for the geostationary satellites. 
• In 1990 Inmarsat used satellites owned and operated by them.  Its first generation satellite systems provided maritime, aeronautical and land mobile services. 
• November of 1990 Inmarsat decided to include navigation transponders on its third generation of satellites, the Inmarsat-3.
• Five Inmarsat-3 satellites were launched between 1996 and 1998. 
• On April 15, 1999, Inmarsat was the first intergovernmental agency to privatize.  They remained an important public service agency for maritime safety.
• December 2000, the Inmarsat system supports satellite voice and data for more than 200,000 mobile users.
• In 2001 Inmarsat commissioned Gilmour Research to assess in the research on determining the demand for Crew Calling.
• The first and second of the Inmarsat “I4” satellites were launched in 2005.
• The third and final “I4” was launched in August of 2008.
• In 2007 the IsatPhone was the first handheld satellite phone Inmarsat has introduced to the market.
• Isatphone service will be available in the U.S. in 2009

Learn More:

• Inmarsat's Vision
• How the Inmarsat Network Works
• The Inmarsat I-4 Story
• About the I-4 Satellites used by the Isatphone
• Inmarsat Satellite Phones and Product Information

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