Under the agreement, Inmarsat's customers will be able to transfer data collected through their Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications to the Microsoft Azure IoT Central platform, which is a global IoT software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution.

Moreover, Microsoft Azure customers will be able to access Inmarsat's global satellite communications network, enabling them to connect their IoT infrastructure to cloud-based applications.

The initial focus of the collaboration is IIoT solutions for the mining, agriculture, transportation and logistics sectors, to help support the digitalisation and visibility of their global supply chains.

Inmarsat said customers will have "access to a variety of tools that will help them connect anything to anything, bringing together assets in the physical world with applications in the digital world, no matter how remote the location".

"This collaboration with Microsoft Azure is central to our Industrial IoT strategy and will enable our customers to access the data generated and processed by our intelligent edge IoT solutions, regardless of where their infrastructure is located," said Tara MacLachlan, Inmarsat's VP of industrial IoT strategy.

"Analysing this data and using it to optimise operations is where the fundamental value of IoT resides, and the applications that Microsoft can deliver through Azure and IoT cloud solutions will be critical to delivering this value to our customers."

Sam George, director of Azure IoT, added: "Microsoft Azure is being built as the world's computer; extending the reach of our cloud through IoT and intelligent edge services.

"Our goal is to enable customers to take advantage of connected IoT solutions no matter where they are in their journey. With Inmarsat, customers across industries from agriculture to mining and logistics sectors, will benefit from the power of the intelligent cloud and intelligent edge with global satellite connectivity in the most remote parts of the globe."