The Inmarsat Classic Aero system provides voice, low-speed data and safety communications services to end users via Aircraft Earth Stations (AESs) installed on airborne platforms and Ground Earth Stations (GESs) which provide the interface between the satellite and terrestrial networks. Classic Aero services are used by most of the world’s airlines and corporate jet operators, as well as governments for VIP aircraft, coast guard and defence agencies. 

A new generation of GESs has been installed by Inmarsat, using Square Peg Communications Inc.’s Multi-Channel Platform (MCP) to provide the modems.

The Inmarsat Classic Aero Channel Unit Subsystem (CUS) is an application of the MCP that provides up to 192 P/R/T or C-channels in a single 7U rack mount chassis. The modems implemented in the CUS are based on those in Square Peg’s Inmarsat Aeronautical Ground Data Unit (GDU), the “gold brick” reference used for type approval of AESs for operation on the Inmarsat network.

The architecture of the MCP is based on the use of a common LAN protocol for communication both within an MCP chassis and with other system elements. This provides a high degree of flexibility in configuring the system. The cards comprising a system can be distributed among multiple synchronized MCP chassis. All elements can be redundant for fault tolerance and high availability. This architecture makes it ideal for GES applications requiring fault tolerance, high availability and fully compliant performance in a compact implementation.