Broadband Solutions News

Iridium Communications Inc. announced the commercially availability of its Iridium Certus 100 "midband" service for maritime, land mobile, IoT, aviation and government customers. Iridium Certus 100 provides a blend of capabilities for satellite connectivity, enabling small, low-profile antennas and battery-powered devices designed for maximum mobility, but with IP data speeds that efficiently support sending important pictures, emails and other vital information from remote places…

Maritime software specialist GTMaritime has appointed maritime satellite veteran Mike McNally as Sales and Marketing Director, as it sets about expanding into new territories.McNally has more than 25 years’ experience working in the industry both at sea and in senior maritime communications management positions. His appointment reflects GTMaritime’s desire to further develop partnerships with its existing customers and resellers, while extending its reach and presence in new territories.As McNally takes up his new role overseeing GTMaritime’s sales and marketing strategy and teams…

Marlink has doubled the burst speed on its Sealink VSAT services, enabling up to 3 Mbps for users on its data allowance packages, enabling faster Internet access and a smoother web browsing experience. New 40, 60 and 80 gigabyte (GB) data allowances have been introduced in parallel to the burst speed increase, enabling users with high bandwidth requirements to extend their smart shipping and crew welfare strategies with maritime VSAT network. Combined with the potential for faster Internet access, the new Sealink allowances enable significantly more capacity for smarter operational efficiency and enhance crew data communications while providing access to social media and web browsing.

A new scheme by marine broadband solutions company Voyager IP aims to alter the way customers can keep track of their VSAT and IT support services. The Irish-based company has launched a points-based system where customers will be able to purchase service and support credits in advance and draw down on them as and when required. Up until now, ship owners and management companies typically signed yearly VSAT and IT support service contracts that did not allow for refunds or credit if the service was not fully utilized in that time period. The company says the scheme was born out of customer feedback and is in line with similar offerings available in the onshore ICT sector.

Telemar GmbH, the German subsidiary of the Telemar Group, closed an agreement with Herm. Dauelsberg for the supply of a complete “turn-key solution” for their fleet of 18 vessels. The shipping company Herm. Dauelsberg is based in Bremen with a longstanding tradition going back more than 150 years, with international activities as shipbrokers, liner agents and shipowners, currently operating a fleet of 14 container vessels and four bulk carriers. Telemar provided an integrated solution including airtime through Fleet Broadband for the whole fleet with future option to upgrade services e.g. Telemar Seamore, turn-key installation and commissioning and a number of value added services, including TOSS (Telemar onboard Security System), Skyfile, eNoad and Antivirus.

SES inform that  OmniAccess, a leading VSAT service provider and network integrator in the luxury superyacht market, has signed a new Ku-band capacity deal on SES’ NSS-12 satellite to provide high-speed internet connectivity to superyachts in the Mediterranean, Black, Caspian and Arabian Seas. OmniAccess will utilise the capacity located at 57 degrees East to keep their customers connected anytime via the data, VOIP, video conferencing services that they offer. “As the superyacht industry continues to boom…

SATCOM’s Availability, Pricing and Utility tempts marine users left unsatisfied by limitations of cellular communication. The inland operator hoping to survive in tomorrow’s rapidly emerging business environment using cellular communications alone is likely to be, as a minimum, disappointed. In a worst case scenario, they may find themselves out of business. That said; there are options that inland transportation businesses can turn to when trying to effectively manage their far-flung businesses. One such option involves the KVH inland solution. According to Steve Griffin, Manager, Commercial Sales at KVH Industries, Inc., the launch of the TracPhone V3ip gave inland operators a solution that had not previously been made available to them…

In October, Morgan City-based and ABS certified mobile satellite service provider and marine electronics service company Delta Wave Communications added three new offerings to its already wide menu of products. Delta Wave has been named an MDL distribution partner for the Fanbeam Laser DP reference system and MDL’s Dynascan 3D mobile mapping system. Separately, a new agreement with KVH Industries introduces new, cutting edge VSAT and Broadband solutions to the Delta Wave stable.

Partners and customers to benefit from extensive multi-technology service portfolio by provider of global satellite-based mobility services. Astrium Services will showcase their latest innovations in maritime communications at the upcoming Seatrade Middle East 2012 from 27 to 29 Nov in Dubai. The new Astrium Services Business Communications entity will host all commercial satcom activities of Astrium Services, serving three main markets: Maritime, Enterprises and Aero. In the maritime market, the company will continue providing services in the same successful structure as today: indirect through the existing, well-established service provider channel whereas Marlink will remain an independent commercial organisation focusing on maritime end customers.

Delta Wave Communications, Inc. is pleased to announce that they have signed a wholesale distribution agreement with KVH Industries, Inc., offering its V3 (the world’s smallest maritime VSAT terminal, V7, new V7IP and V11 broadband solutions, as well as direct billing and support capabilities. KVH Industries, Incorporated is a leading manufacturer of solutions that provide global high speed Internet, television and voice services via satellite to mobile users at sea, on land, and in the air. Their maritime broadband solutions offer global connectivity utilizing both Ku and C band technologies.

O3b Networks announced that the company has signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with Netcom Africa, a provider of satellite and wireless broadband solutions to provide low latency, high capacity broadband connectivity to ships and offshore platforms in Nigeria utilizing O3bs Medium Earth Orbit technology. Nigeria is one of the world’s largest oil producing nations with most multinational oil and gas corporations operating in the region. Despite the availability of multiple submarine cable networks on the coast of the country, service providers have struggled to meet the unique needs of the oil and gas sector. The bandwidth will be delivered over the city of Lagos, the Niger Delta region as well as the offshore oil rigs that comprise approximately 50 platforms.

Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN), of Miramar, Fla., a provider of satellite-based communications, networking and other services to the cruise and offshore oil and gas industries, announced completion of its acquisition by an affiliate of Perseus, L.L.C. Perseus is a merchant bank and private equity fund management company with offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Over the past year, MTN has significantly expanded in its core markets and made significant inroads in its military business. In March 2004, MTN launched a joint venture with Cingular Wireless (formerly AT&T Wireless) to give passengers on North American cruises the ability to use their own mobile phones at sea for the first time.

Telenor Satellite Services signed a three-year communications agreement with British Petroleum (BP) for global broadband services over satellite. The two-part agreement, including Telenor land-based and Sealink at-sea broadband communications services, is one of the largest of its kind in terms of numbers of sites, vessels and systems included. The contract establishes the terms and conditions for upgrading the communications systems of ships and production facilities, as determined by BP, and has the potential of providing cost-efficient and highly reliable very small aperture terminal (VSAT) equipment and services to BP's entire fleet, which will surpass 80 deep sea vessels by the end of 2006, and several offshore rigs and land-based production facilities.