Boeing has awarded a contract to Harris to build Ka-band antennas for the constellation of three Inmarsat-5 satellites to be able to provide high-capacity coverage of the entire globe.

The new satellite constellation will be the backbone for a worldwide, wireless broadband network, with Inmarsat Global Xpress offering broadband speeds of 50Mbps around the world.

The antennas will direct 95 Ka-band beams on the earth and enable the satellites to sustain over the projected 15-year operation.

The Inmarsat-5 antennas are part of the company’s flight-proven Gimbal dish antenna (GDA) systems, which enable beams to be steered to accommodate changing and growing user demands.

The satellites are planned to be launched in 2013-14.