Communications Industry News

U.S.-based global communications company Viasat has completed the acquisition of its UK-based rival Inmarsat."The combined company enhances our scale and scope to continue to drive growth in the increasingly dynamic and competitive satellite communications industry. The company’s assets, once fully integrated, are expected to increase the pace and scope of innovation in the global satellite connectivity sector, offering new and improved capabilities to customers that will address the ever-increasing speed…

Most people these days are aware of risks inherent in our increasingly electronic maritime industry. There is malware, ransomware, and spear phishing to name a few. But a new one has been recently identified – cosmic rays.Cosmic rays are high-energy protons and atomic nuclei which move through space at nearly the speed of light. They originate from the sun, from stars outside of the solar system, and from distant galaxies. They are capable of penetrating and passing through almost any material.

KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), a leader in mobile connectivity, has announced that it has shipped its 10,000th VSAT satellite communications system. This is the latest milestone for a company whose history of innovation in the maritime satellite communications industry began in 2007, when KVH introduced the TracPhone V7, the first maritime 60 cm VSAT terminal, and the mini-VSAT Broadbandsm service. Since that time, KVH has become the market share leader for maritime VSAT terminals (Source: Euroconsult…

Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) announced Lim Chin Hu has been appointed as an independent nonexecutive director of the company with effect from July 16, 2018.Lim is currently the Managing Partner of Stream Global Pte Ltd, an incubator for info-com startups. He has over 30 years of experience in the Info-communications industry. His past working experience includes various management positions in Hewlett Packard as well as key positions in Sun Microsystems Singapore (now Oracle) and Sun in Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam.

The digitalisation of ports and terminal operations offers ways to realise a “fourth industrial revolution”, bringing with it safety, operational, and environmental benefits, delegates heard at the Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA) annual general meeting, which was held in the Spanish port city of Bilbao. Digitalisation themes that were explored during presentations included artificial intelligence, data management, cyber-physical systems, and interoperability between layers of IoT platforms – all of which are emerging as ways to improve container throughput at ports and terminals. Keynote speakers Lamia Kerdjoudj-Belkaid, secretary general of ports body FEPORT, and Capt.

Satlink Satellite Communications has entered into a new agreement with Inmarsat to integrate Fleet Xpress into Satlink’s existing service portfolio. Through the agreement, Satlink will bring more than 1,500 vessels to the Fleet Xpress service over a five-year period. Fleet Xpress, the Global Xpress maritime solution, sets a new standard for maritime global communications with crew welfare, regulatory and operational efficiency at its heart. The service, which is facilitating innovative ‘connected ship’ applications, delivers the highest levels of reliable, high-speed broadband connectivity and exceptional performance across all of the world’s oceans, with continuous connectivity and guaranteed performance.

Satlink Satellite Communications Ltd, a satellite communication and technical services provider, announced that it has become an Inmarsat Partner for Fleet Xpress and FleetBroadband. As part of the partnership Satlink’s solutions will be integrated with Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service to deliver value added services including its in-house developed Satbox, and Tracklite service that enhances connectivity to their existing global customer network involving merchant shipping, offshore, fishing and leisure markets. Socrates Theodossiou, joint Managing Director of The Tototheo Group said, “On-board bandwidth requirements keep growing, driving the satellite communications industry to integrate and develop in-house tailor made solutions for end-users.

The satellite communications group Inmarsat plc cautions that with the slowdown in the global economy hitting shipping, satellite communications industry faces rough weather, according to a report in Reuters. The British company, which provides data and voice connections to shipping, warned that tough trading was set to persist in its maritime and government markets this year. "We are seeing modest growing headwinds in terms of global trade slowdown and increased scrappage and lay outs," Chief Executive Rupert Pearce said. The capital expenditure forecast is more than analysts expected, and came as Inmarsat said it had revenues of $1.27 billion in 2015, similar levels to 2014. Its revenues from maritime services were $593 million in 2015, down $2.4 million from the year before.

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.

P&O Ferries and MTN Communications (MTN) announce the delivery of high-performance Internet connectivity and access to online content through the first Wi-Fi hot spot on the English Channel. This service is now live on the English Channel on ferries serving the P&O Ferries Dover-Calais route. These vessels are reportedly the first ferries in the world connected to the MTN Terrestrial Broadband Network (TBN), in addition to having back-up satellite connectivity, as many cruise ships do today.

Maritime operational effectiveness is to be enhanced globally through the provision of training and certification for seafarers assigned to use advanced satellite communication systems on-board commercial vessels. The initiative, which has been tailored for maritime professionals serving on thousands of commercial vessels at sea, is being led by Seagull Maritime, a Norwegian provider of seafarer training, and GVF, the London-based international association of the satellite communications industry. “Ship owners and managers depend daily upon broadband satellite communications for mission-critical applications”, said Roger Ringstad, Master Mariner and Managing Director of Seagull Maritime.

During the Informa VSAT 2014 conference in London, the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) announced the launch of its Maritime SatCom Forum (MSF) ‘Glossary’. The document, earlier iterations of which were developed by the Maritime SatCom Forum Working Group of the GVF, has been further developed by the joint-chairs of the MSF, Martin Jarrold, Chief of International Programme Development, GVF, and Roger Adamson, Chief Executive, Futurenautics. “The ‘Glossary’ comprises a highly comprehensive…

Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has staged the inaugural Smart Operations conference, the first in a series of events seeking an open debate in the maritime industry over the operational benefits of integrated thinking on shore and ship communications. With the first of the three new Global Xpress satellites already in orbit – a prelude to the global launch of the world’s first high-speed mobile broadband satellite service to the maritime industry…

Globalstar, Inc. announce that all second generation satellites are now in full commercial service, completing the world's most modern satellite communications mobile network. Global customer segments include: oil and gas, government, mining, forestry, commercial fishing, utilities, military, transportation, heavy construction, emergency preparedness, and business continuity as well as individual recreational users. The company's new network supports its current lineup of voice…

Wilson Electronics, a U.S.-based manufacturer of cellular signal boosters, is targeting inland and coastal waterway users with a new marine initiative. The development of a signal booster kit that improves cellular coverage for boaters on inland waterways and for near-shore mariners means that dropped connections and no-service zones may be a thing of the past. Cellular booster systems take a weak signal – sometimes too faint for a cellular device to detect – and boost it so that strong, reliable signal coverage is available inside a vehicle, home, office, commercial building, warehouse or other structure. The Marine Signal Booster Kit (SKU# 841246) pairs Wilson’s well established AG SOHO 60 signal booster with the its marine antenna…

MTN Satellite Communications launched MTN Nexus, a next-generation comms network billed as a hybrid that integrates it with new terrestrial wireless technologies as well as sophisticated computing, powerful processing and specialized optimization. Targeting the high volume cruise sector, MR thought an apt time to sit down with CEO Errol Olivier to discuss Nexus and its relevance to communications at sea. We understand you are a maritime satcom industry veteran. Can you give our readers a briefing on your background serving this market?

RigNet, Inc., provider of managed remote communications to the oil and gas industry, makes management appointments. The company appoint Molly McGuirk as Region Manager, United States,  & Mike Neugebauer as Director, Global Operations & QHSE. McGuirk, who has been serving as director – global operations & QHSE, will have profit-and-loss responsibility for RigNet's operations in the United States, both offshore and onshore, as well as for international operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

9 cruise industry associations to operate under a common organization with a unified structure to better serve the industry. The new association was created to provide increased benefits and a globally unified voice for cruise lines, travel agents and business partners – all of whom contribute to an industry that creates nearly $100 billion in economic impact and more than 753,000 jobs worldwide. For cruise lines, the new association offers a one-stop global resource on technical and regulatory issues and unified global communication and event coordination, all of which better leverage cruise lines’ investment in association membership. For travel agents, the new association offers more robust partnership programs and networking on a broader scale.

Industry and the federal government continue to work together to improve less than optimal conditions on the U.S. inland waterways. Measurable, although slow progress is being achieved. The summer of 2012 brought drought and poor navigating conditions to the inland waterways. Low water levels continued into the fall and threaten to move into winter, but the event has demonstrated how barge industry and government relations have changed over the years and what challenges remain.

MTN is proud to be celebrating its 30th year in the satellite communications industry. Over the past three decades, MTN has contributed to the evolution of the satellite industry and continues to deliver communications solutions that address the needs of both commercial users and governments. - Built the first 5-meter C-Band transportable satellite antenna made to travel with the presidential administration for Summit meetings and Pentagon press pool required events. - Delivered the industry's first stabilized, "transmit and receive" Ku-Band satellite antenna system for the U.S. Navy deployed on the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) during the first Persian Gulf crisis. - Introduced the first onboard Internet cafés for cruise ships leveraging MTN's VSAT technology.

Intellian announced the appointment of Søren Einshøj as its new Global Chief Strategy Officer and President. With nearly twenty years in the marine communications industry, Einshøj will lead Intellian’s growth. Based in Oslo, Norway, President and CSO Søren Einshøj will be part of the core leadership within Intellian. Einshøj will be focused on developing and managing strategic alliances and partnerships throughout the industry worldwide. In 2001 on behalf of Telenor, formerly Norwegian PTT, Einshøj founded Marlink, a merger between Telenor owners’ maritime satellite communication unit and the acquired SAIT Communications SA based in Belgium.

To help support the growing customer base of its TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT BroadbandSM network, KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) has hired Cheri Capuano, a 16-year maritime satellite communications industry veteran, to manage commercial sales in the Gulf of Mexico. Capuano comes to KVH from Stratos Global, where she worked as a sales manager for 11 years. Prior to her experience at Stratos, she spent five years at CruisePhone.

Marlink has completed a new five-year agreement with Delphin Cruises of Hamburg, Germany, to provide complete onboard satellite communications for its luxury liner, the Delphin Renaissance. The agreement calls for Marlink, a company within Telenor Satellite Services formed to serve as the preferred interface between maritime customers and the satellite communications industry, to provide Sealink high-speed data service. Operating at speeds up to 128 kbps, the Sealink solution allows guests and crew to enjoy greater access to e-mail, fax services, and telephone service.