Inmarsat’s new communication satellite, Alphasat I-XL will be launched by Arianespace by 2012 to offer advanced mobile voice and data communications services, Inmarsat announced.

The 6t satellite with a life of 15 years will be built by Astrium and will be deployed by Ariane 5 ECA at 25° east.

It will add to Inmarsat’s existing fleet of 11 geostationary satellites for services across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The satellite is a European Space Agency initiative to develop a new spacecraft platform that can carry a large communications payload and Inmarsat had agreed to be its commercial operator.

Arianespace has launched five of Inmarsat’s previous satellites.