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Stratos Global Corporation, global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, has successfully completed an Inmarsat FleetBroadband field trial with Spain’s Albacora Group. The three-month field trial was conducted onboard the Albacora tuna fishing vessel Albatun Dos in the Indian Ocean. Stratos channel partner Satlink managed the installation of a FleetBroadband 250 terminal manufactured by JRC, which was integrated with the vessel’s local-area network. The successful trial led to Albacora Group retaining the FleetBroadband from Stratos system, which it will use to manage the Albatun Dos’ daily operations at sea.

Inmarsat's FleetBroadband service was officially launched. It now forms a part of Vizada's broadband offering. platforms, fishing boats and many more. FleetBroadband is the latest addition to Inmarsat's Fleet family of services providing simultaneous broadband voice and data. It offers IP services via a standard IP connection at speeds up to 432 kbps over a shared channel allowing email, Internet and intranet access. such as videoconferencing. SMS service. vessel to the corporate network. to traffic levels. A single, dedicated link ensures high security and optimized transmission speeds. Satellite Direct is a Vizada fixed-to-mobile solution enabling shipping company employees, and agents on shore to inexpensively and rapidly contact vessels through a toll-free number.

Inmarsat Ltd, the global mobile satellite communications provider unveiled the first product in its Inmarsat Fleet portfolio, Fleet F77 at Europort 2001. family of three, Fleet F77 offers a unique new Mobile ISDN and Mobile Packet Data service for the maritime community delivering voice, fax and data services at speeds of up to 64 kbit/s. maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) safety standard. With Fleet F77, maritime users will have the flexibility to choose the most cost-efficient two-way communications service for their varying data requirements. The mobile packet data service is a unique maritime solution, charging users only for the data they send and receive, not the time they are connected.

Telenor Satellite Services has unveiled E-Mail Advanced, a new e-mail communications service - optimized to reduce costs and improve transmission efficiency. Telenor E-Mail Advanced reduces user e-mail costs by up to 80 percent and features full duplex communications enabling users to send and receive e-mails simultaneously, increasing communications efficiency while reducing airtime costs. Also new, an automatic mailbag compression that cuts transmission costs by reducing the size and time needed to send messages. The service also features a crash recovery program capable of resuming full duplex transmission if a connection is lost or broken mid-session. Telenor's E-Mail Advanced Hub also scans all incoming e-mails for viruses.

Telenor Satellite Services today announced the commercial launch of Telenor Fleet F55, the first high-speed data solution available for coastal and regional vessels and large yachts. The company also announced that it plans to commercially launch the third member of the Inmarsat Fleet family, Fleet F33, by the end of November. The two new services provide small to medium-sized vessels a powerful communications solution incorporating global voice and a range of data and fax services. Telenor Fleet F55 service offers maritime customers high-speed data communications, at up to 64kbps, in smaller equipment suitable for smaller vessels. F55 service provides users the flexibility of mobile ISDN and Mobile Packet Data Service (MPDS)…

Maritime communications is an estimated $1 billion industry, encompassing ship operators, merchant fleets, governments and private yacht owners. There is arguably no more quickly evolving technical sector in the maritime market than the satellite communications niche. Safety, operational efficiency and quality of life onboard vessels of all type and size today more than ever depends on clear, reliable and cost effective satellite communication services and products. The following reports on recent advances from major service, product and system suppliers. The year started with news that Connexion by Boeing, a business unit of The Boeing Company, would roll-out its high speed satellite broadband capability for the maritime industry.

Marlink, a subsidiary of Telenor Satellite Services, announced that it is extending its "Super Quiet Time" and "Inmarsat A to Fleet" maritime communications programs offered via Telenor. Both programs, first offered in early 2003, are designed to make "at sea" satellite communications more affordable and easier for mariners. Marlink is extending its Super Quiet Time program through March 2005, offering customers substantially reduced prices for prepaid voice calls over Inmarsat-B, -M, Mini-M, GAN, Fleet and Swift services. Marlink has significantly increased the SQT calling hours in all ocean regions, including 24-hours-a-day SQT calling on Saturdays and Sundays.

France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications is enhancing its range of value-added services with a satellite-based VPN (virtual private network). The VPN solution for the Fleet family (Fleet-33, 55 & 77) enables maritime users to connect securely to their corporate business network on land, via either ISDN or MPDS transmission mode. It is based on a fixed public IP address that the user can request in order to simplify connections with its business network. The VPN connection via Fleet terminals enables the user to transmit data securely at high speeds (up to 64 Kbit/s), as well as access their everyday work applications securely.

As technologically advanced as communications have become, the bottom line, particularly for business applications, remains basically the same: the need for clear, reliable and cost-effective means to communicate. Trends in the transmission of data, voice and e-mail from ship-to-shore are much like that of land-based operations. The need for more speed and increased reliability are never ending, and the companies that excel are the ones that not only continually innovate, but those that consistently stay on the front of the curve to deliver real-world technologies that deliver benefits in the unique maritime operational environment. In parallel, price pressures are ubiquitous, as shipowners are keen to exploit every outlet to cut costs and generate revenue.

Inmarsat Ventures plc., announced the opening of their first U.S.-based operations with an office located in Washington, D.C. Inmarsat will execute their North American operations strategy through the new office following the October 2001 legislation extending the ORBIT Act deadline for the company's initial public offering, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling granting access rights for several Inmarsat partners. The legislation and FCC ruling will enable businesses in the U.S. to benefit from Inmarsat's robust and reliable high-speed data and voice communications services through Inmarsat partners. As a former Intergovernmental Organization…

Inmarsat, the original mobile satcom provider for the maritime industry, has been riding the crest of a wave recently, with users at an all-time high, overall 99.9 per cent satellite reliability and the launch of its Fleet F77, Mobile ISDN and Mobile Packet Data services for the maritime community. Ruth Ling reports on what's new and what lies on the horizon. Twenty years ago, a revolution hit the maritime industry. Satellite communications became available to ships at sea. Back in 1982, when Inmarsat began offering onboard satellite communications, its first and only system was Inmarsat A, which offered voice, facsimile, telex and data services. After nine years of successful service and expansion into most maritime sectors, Inmarsat began offering Inmarsat C.

Satellite Services, has announced that the Fleet service is now available to customers on a global basis. Telenor's Fleet service offers the maritime community the most advanced mobile satellite communications technology available for high-speed commercial communications and enhanced safety at sea. Available to all ocean regions through Telenor's Eik Land Earth Station in Norway and its Santa Paula, Calif. facility in the U.S., Telenor's Fleet service via Inmarsat delivers a wide range of commercial communications needs for voice, fax and data services at speeds of up to 64 kbps, including the rapid mobile Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and the new, resource-efficient Mobile Packet Data Service.

On April 1, Xantic became the world’s first company to offer the new maritime Inmarsat Fleet 77 service globally. It is also the first provider to have its service commercially approved for global operations by Inmarsat. It is the service’s availability via the company’s Burum (Netherlands) and Perth (Australia) Land Earth Stations that allow Xantic to become the first LESO to offer a fully global Inmarsat Fleet service, spanning all four Inmarsat ocean regions. Approval for commercial operation was granted by Inmarsat at the end of March following a successful and extensive test program. Inmarsat Fleet allows several forms of rapid and effective communication…

Thrane & Thrane introduces its new maritime high-speed terminal, Capsat® Fleet77.Orders for more than DKK 14 million have been received. Shipment of the Capsat® Fleet77 will commence soon. As the first manufacturer Thrane & Thrane will introduce a new maritime high-speed terminal for Inmarsat’s Fleet F77 service. The new terminal, Capsat® Fleet77, is a competitive alternative to the present Inmarsat-B terminals typically used on large merchant and fishing vessels. This is a new market for Thrane & Thrane and has an annual value of approximately $30 million. Since the Capsat® Fleet77 was unveiled at the Europort fair in November 2001, Thrane & Thrane has received orders for more than $2 million from approximately 30 distribution partners. Shipment of the Capsat® Fleet77 will commence soon.

In relation to the service launch of Fleet77 by Inmarsat on April 10, 2002, Thrane & Thrane is has started shipping Capsat Fleet77 products to its partners and distributors worldwide. "We have now been shipping Capsat Fleet77 systems to our distributors for a couple of weeks in order to enable them to demonstrate the product to the end users from the beginning of the service period" says Kim Bille Gram, Maritime Sales Manager, Thrane & Thrane. "We are pleased to be able to provide Capsatâ Fleet77 terminals to ship owners all over the world. Our Capsatâ Fleet77 systems have at this stage been tested onboard 7 different ships, which have been sailing in all ocean regions. These ships range from large container carriers to small fishing vessels.

Sait-Stento has expanded its satellite communication services to address the communication needs of onshore users in addition to its maritime user base. The company's services include traffic accounting activities, airtime selling and value added services. Adding on to this will be ISDN high-speed data technology. Sait-Stento's Airtime Services Business Unit (ATS) is launching a special program for mobile users and telecommunication operators called M4Land, which is one of the largest Inmarsat providers in the world.

Selecting a "Technology-of-the-Year" for the June 2002 Yearbook edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was no small task, and a decidedly unscientific one, at that. There were no editorial boards, voting slips, gala dinners or plaques. Simply put, the editors of MR/EN arrived on Satellite Communications technology as the centerpiece of its largest edition based on observation, discussion and analysis of the companies that have develop, supply, test and purchase the products and services that fall under its broad category.Words alone cannot summarize the technological revolution that has swept the world during the past decades. Consider for a moment a world without the Internet, e-mail or seamless, high-capacity communication links.

On August 18, France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications and Inmarsat signed the first distribution agreement for the new BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service. On its launch in H2 2005, BGAN will be the first mobile satellite communications solution to offer global coverage with data rates of up to 432 Kbps. Initially developed for land-based markets, maritime and aero versions of BGAN are currently planned for commercial launch in 2007. The service will be available via a portfolio of small, portable terminals, offering guaranteed throughputs at various speeds. Voice communications and data transfer via a 64 Kbps ISDN channel will also be possible.

Thrane & Thrane is launched a new and enhanced feature for the maritime Fleet77 products: a new 128 kbps ISDN capability that effectively doubles the data speed on the Fleet77 systems. Thrane & Thrane expects this enhancement – a single, dedicated 128 kbps ISDN channel – to be available on all existing Fleet77 systems during Q1 2005. and Group 3 & 4 fax services. The 128 kbps ISDN combined with the MPDS always on capacity will enable customers with high traffic volumes and those requiring higher data rates to achieve the optimal, cost efficient “office at sea”.

SAILOR introduced the new satellite communications terminal SAILOR Fleet77. The new terminal is for the recently launched Inmarsat satellite service Fleet77. According to its manufacturers, the SAILOR Fleet77 is a break-through in maritime communications. It enables ship owners to optimize business opportunities and minimize costs by integration of the entire fleet into a corporate network. Each vessel can stay on-line constantly at no charge from Inmarsat. Only the transferal of megabites will be charged. The vessel’s various needs for voice, fax, e-mail and Internet services can be covered by the SAILOR Fleet77 system. The Sailor Fleet77…

JRC’s new Fleet 77 JUE-410F Inmarsat is built to employ high quality and advanced technology. The Fleet 77 system is considered by Inmarsat to be the new generation of Sat B which most Captains are familiar with. High powered antennas supporting Inmarsat’s new Fleet 77 service sustain internet data transfer rates 7-20 times faster than the Inmarsat B. Designed to search for, acquire, identify and track the signal, these stabilized antennas are plug-in and play operation once installed. Service packages are available from a variety of vendors. World travelers can use the new Inmarsat Fleet 77 service, which offers global Internet access at 64 Kbps (Kilobits per second).

Telenor Satellite Services, a subsidiary of Telenor of Norway announced that it now offers high-speed 128 kbps maritime satellite communications service globally. Telenor has added Pacific Ocean coverage to its existing Fleet F77 128 kbps service in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions. The service is terminated at the company's Pacific Ocean teleport in Santa Paula, California. The Fleet F77 128 kbps service operates over the Inmarsat satellite system and uses Fleet F77 hardware while virtually doubling the data speed normally available associated with the service. The Fleet service and hardware, commercially available since 2002, is currently used by many large vessels such as merchant ships, oil and energy transport ships, cruise liners and ferries, and super yachts.

GMPCS Personal Communications placed an initial order with Hughes Network Systems for 1,000 HNS 9201 broadband satellite IP terminals for use with Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) mobile satellite service. The deal with Hughes makes GMPCS the first satellite communications service provider to place an order for the terminals that will usher in the new global broadband service anticipated to begin in late 2005. The capabilities of BGAN will include the delivery of Internet and intranet content and solutions, LAN and WAN connectivity, video on demand, videoconferencing, fax, e-mail, phone and local area network access at speeds of up to 492 kbps.