Inmarsat buoyed by data services at sea Inmarsat, the satellite communications company, saw a growing demand for data services at sea - despite its tie-up with struggling US wireless network LightSquared weighing on overall revenues. Revenues at the group's maritime data division improved markedly in the three months to 30 September, rising by more than a quarter year-on-year to $85.4m. This growth more than offset falling revenues in Inmarsat's maritime voice division, where revenues were down 9.3 per cent year-on-year to $19.6m. Rupert Pearce, chief executive, said: "We are now a data service company - 85 per cent of our revenues come from data. People are moving from voice to email and text - these aren't trends that are unusual - and we are very well positioned. However, strong performance at sea was not matched by the company's performance on land. Heavy demand for satellite communications in 2011 - fuelled by the failure of terrestrial services after the Japanese earthquake and Arab Spring uprisings - made it difficult for the company to keep pace this year. In the group's land mobile sector, revenues fell 7.3 per cent year-on-year to $34.3m - a drop in usage exacerbated by the withdrawal of Western forces from Afghanistan. Overall revenues fell 10.5 per cent year-on-year to $325.9m, mainly because of the demise of LightSquared, the 4G wireless company founded by hedge fund billionaire Philip Falcone. In May, LightSquared filed for bankruptcy protection after failing to reach an agreement with creditors over $1.6bn of debt. But while revenues excluding LightSquared edged up 5 per cent year-on-year to $322m, underlying earnings were down. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation excluding LightSquared fell 6.4 per cent to $161m - slightly below consensus estimates. Inmarsat also brought forward costs related to its Global Xpress business, its high-speed broadband satellite service scheduled to launch in the first half of 2013. Mr Pearce said this move was "an accelerated investment, not an additional investment" to help Inmarsat fight for market share in the sector. Analysts at S&P Capital Research pointed out that while this move was "likely to depress this year's cash flow," it was a "sign of confidence" in the business. Mr Pearce said Inmarsat had two aims for Global Xpress: "Grab market share and create barriers to entry for our rivals." He added: "We have the highest capacity and highest speed of any satellite company in the world." Shares in the group fell 3.2 per cent to 560p on Monday, having rallied by almost a fifth since the start of August.