It is emerging that the pings/data were detected/received by London-based satellite operator Inmarsat. Were Inmarast known to provide specific services to MAS/boeing/RR in relation to this particular flight?
See the press release perhaps for the answer to your question ?
14 March 2014: Inmarsat has issued the following statement regarding Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
Routine, automated signals were registered on the Inmarsat network from Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 during its flight from Kuala Lumpur.
This information was provided to our partner SITA, which in turn has shared it with Malaysia Airlines.