Broadband Internet News

Hurtigruten Expeditions said it will be the first cruise line to implement SpaceX’s broadband service Starlink across its entire fleet.The expedition cruise line and its long-time connectivity partner Speedcast began testing and integration of Starlink terminals on board the operator's fleet of small-size expedition cruise ships in March. Installation will be complete by end of October, making Hurtigruten Expeditions the first cruise line to introduce the high-speed, low-latency connectivity across its entire fleet…

Marlink has added SpaceX’s Starlink service to its offerings, a move aimed at strengthening its connectivity solutions portfolio.Marlink and OmniAccess will leverage Starlink – a high-speed, low-latency broadband internet service enabled by a constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit – to complement its portfolio of smart network solutions and services globally. Under the agreement, Marlink and OmniAccess will act as global “authorized Starlink integrators” for maritime and enterprise customers.Marlink’s integration of Starlink with existing VSAT…

Royal Caribbean Group this week revealed it will be the industry's first cruise ship operator to implement SpaceX’s Starlink for onboard broadband internet service for guests and crew fleetwide.The cruise giant said on Tuesday it will immediately begin installing Starlink high-speed, low-latency connectivity on all Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises ships, along with all new vessels for each of its brands going forward. Initial installations…

President Joe Biden signed into law a $1 trillion infrastructure bill at a White House ceremony on Monday that drew Democrats and Republicans who pushed the legislation through a deeply divided U.S. Congress.The measure is designed to create jobs across the country by dispersing billions of dollars to state and local governments to fix crumbling bridges and roads, and expanding broadband internet access to millions of Americans.The bill-signing ceremony, held in chilly weather on the White House South Lawn to accommodate a big crowd…

President Joe Biden named former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to oversee implementation of the $1 trillion infrastructure plan, the White House said on Sunday.Landrieu, also a Democratic former Louisiana lieutenant governor, led New Orleans from 2010 to 2018. He played a key role in helping the city rebound from the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005.Biden, who will sign the infrastructure bill into law on Monday, named Landrieu senior adviser responsible for coordinating implementation of the bill that includes big jumps in spending on roads…

The $1 trillion infrastructure package headed to President Joe Biden to sign into law will provide a welcome funding injection for America’s inland waterway infrastructure.The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was approved by Congress on November 6 and is expected to be signed by President Biden next week. The plan has money for everything from roads, bridges, ports and rail transit, to safe water, the power grid, broadband internet and more, including $2.5 billion…

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit the Port of Baltimore on Wednesday to discuss how the $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed by the U.S. Congress helps the American people by upgrading ports and strengthening supply chains, the White House said on Sunday.Biden on Saturday called the bill a once-in-a-generation investment.

Telenor Satellite has announced that Marlink, a worldwide satellite communications provider, has been assigned Platinum Service Provider status for the provision of services on the THOR 7 satellite. Marlink is now integrating its full range of Value Added Services into the THOR 7 product offering, providing high-throughput connectivity to Marlink’s regional vessels across all its market segments, ranging from fishing and commercial shipping to high-end yachts and passenger vessels. “Demand for both reliable and cost-effective connections at sea continues to grow rapidly due to the increased use of IP applications such as broadband internet access, VOIP, video streaming and improved access to corporate networks,” said Tore Morten Olsen, President of Marlink.

The KOTC operated crude oil tanker Al Kout is the fourth sister Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) of 317,300 DWT, part of the KOTC Phase III of the fleet newbuilding projects. The vessel has been designed and built under the survey of NK class and distinguished in the register by the following notations: NS*(CSR, TOB, PSPC-WBT) (PS-FA) (ESP, PSCM, IWS) (EA, BWTS, HMS, BRS1), MSN*, M0, Prime Ship-Hull care. According to the builder and the owner, the tanker Al Kout offers many advantages over traditional tankers in terms of efficiency, environmental friendliness, crew comfort and security.

Puerto Rico announced today that it is looking for a major international port operator to partner with on the development of the Port of the Americas, located in Ponce, on the southern coast of the island. The Port of the Americas site sits on over 300 acres, located just 5 miles from Mercedita Airport, representing a tremendous opportunity for future port capacity expansion and industrial growth. “We are excited to work with a private-sector partner on the Port of the Americas, to help bring jobs and economic opportunity to the southern coast of Puerto Rico,” said Alberto Bacó-Bagué, Secretary of Puerto Rico’s Department of Economic Development and Commerce. “The development of this port is just another step in our larger economic plan focused on long-term strategic growth.

Leading offshore energy services provider, Jaya Holdings Limited confirmed the on-time delivery of its second new Multi-Purpose Platform Supply Vessel (MPSV), Jaya Vigilant. She sailed from Jaya’s shipyard in Batam yesterday and was immediately on hire by its charterer for a term program in East Africa. The vessel will load a Remotely Operated Vessel (ROV) spread and mobilize across the Indian Ocean to load further subsea equipment for the client in Durban in October. “[Jaya Vigilant] has a 50 ton subsea crane with active heave compensation for service in water depths of up to 3…

Delta Wave Communications, LLC, an Elite Stratos Channel Partner is pleased to announce that they have been selected as Stratos’ distribution and installation partner for the new StratosMax II Nomadic WiMax service. With up to 1Mbps service for marine vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond, the service offers unprecedented broadband internet connectivity with land line voice access. StratosMAX leverages emerging WiMAX technology based on 802.16 standards to create a wide area network for long range offshore communications.

RigNet, Inc., a provider of managed remote communications solutions for the upstream oil and gas industry, recently announced the expansion of its contract with Hercules Offshore to provide managed remote communications to its fleet of jackup drilling rigs and U.S. Gulf of Mexico-based inland barges. Under the previous contract, RigNet provided managed communication services to most Hercules Offshore rigs operating outside of the United States. This recent agreement expands the contract to include the company's jackup rigs and inland barges in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, including the recently-acquired rigs from Seahawk Drilling. With managed communications solutions provided by RigNet, Hercules Offshore's remote personnel can now access critical enterprise data, voice and broadband Internet.

KVH Introduces TracPhone V3, which the company touts as the smallest and most affordable maritime VSAT System, at 2 Mbps and $0.99 per MB. The ultra-compact TracPhone V3 represents the latest advancement in maritime satellite communications from KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI). It was introduced at the Miami International Boat Show, the TracPhone V3 is the world’s smallest maritime VSAT antenna, measuring 14.5" (37 cm) in diameter and weighing 25 pounds (11 kg). "The TracPhone V3 will definitely change the way mariners think about satellite communications. We are excited to offer accessible, affordable broadband Internet access via this ultra-compact system and our proven…

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.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, has been equipped with MTN Satellite Communications’ (MTN) state-of-the-art VSAT satellite communications system. The 1,184-ft, 225,282-gross ton Oasis of the Seas carries up to 5,400 passengers and a crew of more than 2,000. The satellite communication requirements for such a massive ship presented special challenges, according to MTN. “The communications suite is a critical component for operating the ship and its passenger services,” said Max Schmidt, vice president of information technology, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “For the inaugural voyage of Oasis of the Seas, MTN supplied the highest bandwidth ever used on a single ship in the history of the cruise industry,” said Brent Horwitz, senior vice president of MTN.

KVH Industries (NASDAQ:KVHI) announced the successful activation of its mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) service in Africa. The latest step in the joint effort by KVH and ViaSat to offer a seamless global broadband network for vessels and aircraft, the new African coverage area is using the Telesat 11N satellite, which has already been supporting Atlantic service. The network is now bringing broadband Internet and voice service for commercial and leisure boaters in and around Africa.   "We are thrilled to kick off the new year by bringing our African coverage online," said Brent C.  Bruun, KVH's vice president of sales and business development.   (www.kvh.com)

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.

CapRock Communications, a global provider of satellite communications to remote environments, has expanded its presence in Asia Pacific by opening a new regional office in Singapore. The expansion increases CapRock’s capability to provide systems integration (SI) services and turnkey satellite communication solutions to energy, maritime and mining clients operating in the region. “CapRock’s clients are continuing to strengthen their operations in Asia,” said CapRock Vice President and General Manager, Southeast Asia, Ian Ford. Today CapRock owns and operates an international teleport and support center in Jakarta, Indonesia that serves the Far East, Asia and Pacific Basin.

Crews on commercial oil and gas, shipping, and government vessels in the Persian Gulf now have access to affordable broadband Internet and crystal-clear telephone service throughout the region with the recent expansion of the mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) service from KVH Industries (NASDAQ:KVHI) . The new coverage area brings affordable satellite communications to a region where secure real-time communications are a necessity, via KVH's rugged TracPhone(R) V7 hardware. In addition to providing service to the KVH mini-VSAT maritime system, this expansion also extends the ViaSat Yonder(SM) mobile network for in-flight broadband to business and commercial aircraft.

Broadband Internet and telephone service is now available to vessels crossing the Pacific Ocean due to the rollout of the new Pacific Ocean Region for the mini-VSAT Broadband satellite communications service from KVH Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: KVHI). The new coverage area, which includes Alaska, the west coasts of Canada and the United States, Hawaii, and extends into Asia, is part of the KVH and ViaSat (Nasdaq: VSAT) joint effort to provide affordable mobile Ku-band broadband connections around the globe. As a result, vessels now have access to uninterrupted Ku-band Internet and voice services from the Asian coast eastward throughout North America and the Caribbean, across the North Atlantic, and all the way through Mediterranean waters.

Wired Ocean, a solution to broadband internet at sea has been installed aboard the entire Godby Shipping fleet. The seven vessel installation of the unique system, which commenced in September 2007 was carried out by Telemar and completed when the final vessel in the fleet, Miranda, took delivery of the system in February 2008. Wired Ocean is a marine broadband system, designed to deliver shore to ship data via a vessel's satellite TV antenna.

forwarders worldwide, has appointed Louise Bradley to the new position of director of e-commerce strategy. Based in London, the appointment highlights the growing importance of the TT Club's suite of Internet services, which include ClaimsTrac, eClaims and TTXpress.com. Bradley, a graduate in law from Queen's University, Belfast, will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of the club's e-commerce presence. strategic alliances, she will be responsible for the management, development and delivery of existing services. "Louise brings a rich and varied experience to this important new role," said Paul Neagle, TT Club's CEO.