Broadband Access News

The market for marine services in support of the installation and maintenance of undersea telecommunications cables has matured over a period of more than 100 years to reach its present state of development. The largest providers of marine services (companies such as the Global Marine Group, SubCom, Alcatel Submarine Networks and Orange Marine) take different approaches to operations, but provide a mature and assured set of services that play a critical role in the industry. Marine services support the suppliers of undersea cable systems (delivering 50…

WORK Microwave has announced the results of its technology demonstration with Intellian and Telesat to increase the reliability, performance, and throughput of broadband for maritime applications. Recently, the companies successfully tested a high-throughput data link from Mount Jackson, Virginia to Pompano Beach, Florida using WORK Microwave's AX-80 wideband modem, the Intellian v150NX 1.5m Ka-band wideband antenna, and the Telesat T19 VANTAGE High Throughput Satellite (HTS).

Satellite communications provider Speedcast International said it will begin to offer Intellian’s v240MT antenna to customers in the cruise and offshore energy sectors.The v240MT is Intellian’s next generation, tri-band and multi-orbit 2.4 meter antenna for use on Ku, Ka and C-band satellites. The antenna has the capability to provide Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) broadband access to virtually any satellite constellation within seconds. Intellian said the v240MT is designed to deliver data rates exceeding 1Gbps…

GTMaritime has signed Marinesat as a value-added reseller to deliver its maritime-optimized communication solutions to vessels in China and other markets. The agreement with Marinesat is GTMaritime’s first partnership within the Chinese market.GTMaritime provides a range of technology solutions to the maritime industry that serve to enable effective communications over satellite, including maritime-optimized products for email, anti-virus protection and data transfer.In addition to providing IT solutions…

Shipowners who want to get the value out of data, applications and smarter shipping have realized that VSAT is the new L-Band, says Malcolm McMasterAt Globecomm we spend as much time as possible talking to shipowners about their communications needs. It’s always a rewarding conversation because we hear about what they actually do with bandwidth, which gives us insight into what systems and solutions might suit them best.Over the last decade that would almost always mean L-Band satellite systems; but this is changing.

KVH Industries, Inc., announced today that its longtime satellite capacity partner SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SJC) has agreed to invest $4.5 million in KVH as part of the two companies’ ongoing commitment to deliver next-generation maritime broadband services. KVH and SJC intend to collaborate on value-added services in the area of shipping digitalization and improved broadband access at sea. SJC agreed to purchase $4.5 million of KVH common stock in a private placement at a purchase price of $11.95 per share…

The Trump administration is finalizing its long-awaited infrastructure plan, which would push most of the financing of projects to private investment and state and local taxpayers, according to sources familiar with the proposal taking shape. President Donald Trump, who spoke frequently of improving U.S. infrastructure during his 2016 campaign, may preview the plan in his Jan. 30 State of the Union address, but details are not expected until afterward, the sources said. Two people briefed on it said it would likely recommend dividing $200 billion in federal funding over 10 years into four pools of funds. The administration is structuring the plan to encourage $1.35 trillion in state…

The cost of construction of underwater fiber-optic link from Kamchatka to Chukotka could exceed 2 billion rubles. Prospects for the project discussed the governor of the Chukotka Autonomous District Roman Kopin, the president of "Rostelecom" Sergei Kalugin and executive vice-president Alexander Rogov. It is reported by the press service of the head of Chukotka. Today communication services in Chukotka are available via satellites, so the communication quality is poor. According to experts, there are two ways to solve the problem: the redistribution capacity of the resource of the spacecraft "Express AM5" in favor of Chukotka or gasket link from Kamchatka to Anadyr.

It’s no coincidence that Class standard bearer DNV GL’s incoming group chief exec, Remi Eriksen, is a former telecoms engineer who knows his way around Houston (IT) and Singapore (yards). After all, the satellite communications industry understands shipping. The reverse should also be true. Speaking ahead of his first day as CEO, Eriksen describes a future of “fast ships and slow growth” — not bandwidth growth, mind you. Satellite operators, network providers and other vendors are eying broadband for Big Data transfers.

While the true uptake of broadband across the maritime sector has been slow to develop, a number of market conditions are conspiring to drive the service mainstream. Intelsat’s Kurt Riegelman discusses the matter with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News. While the advent of full broadband in the maritime sector is the exception rather than the norm, the tides are changing as companies increasingly deploy fast, modern ‘land-like’ comms in an effort to achieve everything from attracting and retaining crew, to streamlining business operations at sea and enhancing safety.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has announced several new initiatives to improve connectivity in the Port of Singapore, including a new 4G mobile network built in collaboration with M1 Limited. The MPA and M1 also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together in promoting this 4G technology to shipping companies operating within Singapore port waters, to increase connectivity in an effort to improve operations and crew welfare. Both organizations have also committed to research and testing of new technologies to improve the network in the future. Dubbed ‘Smart Port’, the initiatives range from the installation of 4G broadband access in Singapore port waters for the maritime community and for vessels in Singapore port waters…

Global IP to introduce Ku-band maritime services to oil, gas and energy customers across the vast Indian Ocean region. Intelsat S.A., a  provider of satellite services, announced today that Spain-based Global IP, a provider of satellite communications for maritime, energy and corporate customers, has signed multi-year agreements allowing it to provide broadband service to its maritime customers in the Indian Ocean region. Global IP will use capacity on Intelsat 22 at 72° East, Intelsat 702 at 33° East, and the IntelsatOneSM terrestrial network to introduce advanced mobility services. Global IP will collocate its DVB-S2 high-throughput platform at Intelsat's teleport in Fuchsstadt, Germany, enabling access to the IntelsatOne infrastructure and Intelsat's satellite fleet.

New technology platform options for Marlink C-band users. Marlink is expanding its portfolio with the introduction of new C-band services on the iDirect platform, which will enhance network efficiency and open up new options for customers using SealinkTM global C-band coverage for business critical applications. The services will be among the first in the industry to utilise DVB-S2 with Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) technology on regional, multi-regional and global maritime C-band. The implementation of a new state-of-the-art platform for Sealink global C-band coverage has been made possible following the recent upgrade of Marlink’s global VSAT network with the integration of iDirect’s Evolution® X5 Satellite Router and latest operating software release.

DSD Shipping AS of Stavanger, Norway, is the latest commercial maritime operation to take advantage of the broadband access and affordable service offered by KVH Industries, Inc. via its compact TracPhone V7 satellite communications system and the mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) service. DSD Shipping recently completed a successful trial on the Stavanger Viking and is now moving ahead with the installation of KVH's 24-inch (60 cm) TracPhone V7 antenna on its nine remaining vessels. Once all the installations are complete, DSD Shipping crew members will have multiple voice lines along with broadband Internet, e-mail, and data access onboard as they travel throughout the mini-VSAT Broadband network's expanding global coverage area.

Clipper Marine Services A/S of Copenhagen, Denmark, is the latest commercial maritime operation to take advantage of the broadband access and affordable service offered by KVH Industries (Nasdaq: KVHI) and its compact TracPhone V7 satellite communications system and the mini-VSAT Broadband service. In the coming months, 22 of Clipper Tankers’ vessels will be equipped with KVH’s 24-inch (60 cm) TracPhone V7 antenna along with multiple voice service lines and broadband Internet, e-mail, and data access throughout the mini-VSAT Broadband network’s expanding global coverage area. Clipper will continue to benefit from its Inmarsat systems and service, however, thanks to the TracPhone V7’s full compatibility with Dualog software.

Broadband Antenna Tracking Systems, Inc. (BATS) has successfully demonstrated an industry-first ship-to-ship wireless broadband communications tracking system integrating its BTS-2500 units with two wireless broadband radios. The demonstration was conducted on the Sea of Marmara for a customer that is seeking a cost-effective communications tracking system with high bandwidth and low latency that can cover great distances for its fleet of ships. The BATS tracking systems were mounted on the main mast of each ship at a height of 16 meters above the sea. The live demonstration involved ships simultaneously moving at speeds up to 13 knots and at distances up to 44 kilometers apart. The RSSI was around -50 when the distance between the ships was under 20Km and -60 between 20-40Km.

After a year and a half development process that included antenna upgrades and a new one-piece radome design, Sea Tel applied for and was granted Eutelsat Type Approval on their 4996T maritime VSAT system. This is the first time that a complete maritime "system" including antenna, pedestal and radome has been granted Eutelsat Type Approval. "Being granted Type Approval from Eutelsat is extremely valuable to Sea Tel. We believe it will be even more valuable for our customers who will save many man-hours of required testing time that they will now be able to waive because of this Type Approval," said Robert C. Matthews, Sea Tel Vice President of Technical Sales.

General Defense Systems, Inc. has secured a contract to deploy the General Defense Systems (GDS) Lightning Access System, designed to improve information access for security systems at U.S. ports, including shipping container X-ray inspection systems. The first of these systems is to be deployed at the Port of Miami, offering a wireless broadband connection to the facility's existing X-ray container inspection system and providing real-time access to video cameras mounted on the X-ray system, as well as to the X-ray images as they are viewed. "Our Lightning Access System is another example of the integrated technology that GDS is implementing to assist in the improvement of information dissemination and access for homeland security," states Frank Fawcett, GDS president.

General Defense Systems (GDS) has secured a contract to deploy its Lightning Access System, designed to improve information access for security systems at U.S. ports, including shipping container X-ray inspection systems. The first of these systems is to be deployed at the Port of Miami, offering a wireless broadband connection to the facility's existing X-ray container inspection system and providing real-time access to video cameras mounted on the X-ray system, as well as to the X-ray images as they are viewed. According to GDS, by integrating broadband access for shipping container X-ray systems, the U.S. Government will gain the benefit of real-time remote access to X-ray imaging for increased technical support…

Stratos Global Corp. has begun offering Inmarsat BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) service in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Coverage is scheduled to be extended to North and South America in the second quarter of 2006. In addition, in early 2006, Stratos expects to further expand its geographic presence and customer base with the acquisition of Netherlands- based Xantic B.V. The combination of Stratos' market-leading presence in the government, military, energy and leasing sectors, combined with Xantic's position as the number one provider to the maritime and carrier sectors, will give the combined business an unmatched presence in the key markets for mobile satellite services, including BGAN.

Grandi Navi Veloci and WINS, a joint venture set up by Skylogic Italia (Eutelsat’s broadband affiliate) and Maltasat International launched a satellite-based communications network on the first two of eight luxury cruise ferries that sail in the Western Mediterranean. The new network enables Grandi Navi Veloci to extend GSM telephony to passengers and crew at sea and also to provide broadband access services. The complete fleet of eight GNV ferries is expected to be equipped before the end of the year. The new service was officially launched on May 22 in the port of Genoa on La Superba, a Grandi Navi Veloci cruise ship which can transport 3,000 passengers and 1,000 cars.

By early 2008, all ships in Singapore can have access to mobile wireless broadband, allowing real-time and data-intensive communications between the ships and their customers and business partners. Thanks to WISEPORT (WIreless-broadband-access for SEaPort), activities that could only be done onshore previously can now be achieved offshore as well, from regulatory filings, to broadband communications, to real-time access to navigational data. WISEPORT is one of the initial projects under theInfocomm@SeaPort program, which aims to provide a mobile wireless broadband network within 15km from Singapore’s southern coastline. WISEPORT will provide a low-cost, high-bandwidth and secure access.