The first satellite in the series was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on 12th March 2005. It covers most of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Inmarsat-4 F2 is due for launch from a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean between 14:19 and 14.48 GMT on 5th November. The satellite will be positioned in geostationary orbit over the Atlantic Ocean and will provide service coverage over South America, the Atlantic Ocean and part of the Pacific Ocean.
Like its sister satellites, the F2 carries a single global beam that covers up to one-third of the Earth's surface, 19 wide spot beams and 228 narrow spot beams.
According to launch services provider Sea Launch Company, the satellite will deliver voice and data connections at speeds of up to half a megabit per second.
The technology onboard each satellite, built by Stevenage-based EADS Astrium, will allow subscribers to set up virtual offices on around 85% of the world’s landmass, covering around 98% of the global population, according to mobile satellite communications provider Inmarsat.
The firm hopes that its new satellites will usher in a new era of “Broadband for a Mobile Planet”.
"The Inmarsat 4 satellites are a great example of the UK's cutting-edge engineering skills,” said Science and Innovation Minister Lord Sainsbury. “This second satellite is set to expand global access to broadband communications – transforming the way people work away from home.”
A third satellite is currently in production.