Overview[]
The International Maritime Satellite Corporation (INMARSAT) was formed in 1979 to provide safety and other communication services to the maritime community. Today it serves a wide range of business and government customers on land, at sea and in the air. It provides global voice, data and IP communications solutions, in a range of cross-platform mobile and fixed satellite microwave and wireless technologies. It enables users to make phone calls or connect to the internet — whenever and wherever they need — on land, at sea or in the air.
"INMARSAT provides bulk use and pay-per-use alternatives that support information transfer requirements during both normal operations and periods of contingency or crisis. INMARSAT does not provide the survivability, LPI, or antijam capabilities required in tactical applications. It may be subject to electromagnetic interference (EMI), jamming, or intrusion."[1]
INMARSAT Agreement[]
The INMARSAT agreement provides that the mobile communications service provided by the system may be used "exclusively for peaceful purposes." This provision provides less than a perfect solution, however, since the member nations and the INMARSAT staff have concluded that this language permits use of INMARSAT by U.N. peacekeeping or peacemaking forces acting under the auspices of the U.N. Security Council, even if they are engaged in armed conflict to accomplish their missions.
References[]
- ↑ Joint Publication 6-0, at II-14.