Inmarsat to build low-orbit satellite 5G mesh network

Satellite company Inmarsat announced plans for a combined terrestrial and in-orbit 5G network. Inmarsat plans to spend around US$100 million over the next five years on a dynamic mesh network called Orchestra, combining terrestrial services with low Earth orbit (LEO) and geosynchronous (GEO) satellites. Inmarsat’s CEO stated the plan to initially focus on the Orchestra terrestrial network while preparing for the LEO constellation. The combination of GEO, LEO and 5G into a single network is expected to support the delivery of service greater than using each individual technology.