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Mobile Satellite Services News

28 Feb 2022

Thuraya Launches Push-to-talk Comms Solution with Cobham SATCOM

(Image: Thuraya)

Thuraya Telecommunications Company, the mobile satellite services subsidiary of the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider, Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC, announced it has launched its new IP-based radio communications solution, Thuraya Push-to-Talk (PTT).Thuraya PTT has been developed with Cobham SATCOM, a provider of satellite communications solutions to the maritime and land markets. The solution will enable users to extend the range of their voice communications…

12 Jul 2017

Iridium Plans to Start GMDSS Service in 2020

Iridium Communications Inc. announced that two key milestones along the path to becoming the second recognized provider of Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) services have been reached. During its 98th session this past June, the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) adopted new performance standards for GMDSS equipment and approved amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Treaty, which pave the way for Iridium to become a recognized GMDSS service provider. Now, the key remaining step in the approval process is an IMO resolution recognizing Iridium as a certified GMDSS mobile satellite service provider. Iridium expects this will be completed during calendar year 2018, with Iridium GMDSS service to begin in 2020.

23 Feb 2017

New Sat Comms Expert for the Greek and Cypriot Markets

Marlink has signed an agreement to enter into a joint venture with the satellite connectivity business of Greece and Cyprus based TNL Group, enabling it to launch a brand new maritime satellite communications expert, Marlink CG. Delivering a wide portfolio of innovative Marlink VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) services, Inmarsat FleetXpress, Inmarsat/Iridium MSS (Mobile Satellite Services) and integrated business critical solutions for customers in Southern Europe, Marlink CG will operate from offices in Greece and Cyprus, with expert staff from both TNL and Marlink dedicated to improving the flexibility and reliability of maritime satcom in the region.

04 Nov 2015

Rickmers Upgrades VSAT for Entire Fleet

Photo courtesy of Rickmers

Rickmers Group will migrate to multiband VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) from Marlink Maritime VSAT for its fleet of 90+ vessels including containerships, bulk carriers and heavy lift vessels, in a move  that aims to improve operational efficiency through better integration of ship and shore side networks in addition to providing internet connectivity for crew welfare. High bandwidth availability on Marlink’s Ku-band ‘Plus’ maritime VSAT services will enable Rickmers to significantly enhance on board IT opportunities while introducing the possibility of live monitoring…

10 Jul 2015

$ 10 mi Infusion to Fuel Growth of Satcom Global, AND Group

Broadband Satellite Services Ltd (BSS), parent company of satellite communications provider Satcom Global and marine engineering firm AND Group, has received a $10m investment from UK based organisation, Business Growth Fund (BGF). This significant investment will allow BSS to accelerate its long-term growth strategy, enabling expansion and development within the Mobile Satellite Services market, further strengthening Satcom Global’s position as a top tier distributor of services to maritime, offshore, aeronautical, media and aid customers across the globe. Ian Robinson, CEO of BSS said: “At Satcom Global and AND Group we take pride in being one of the most innovative and customer oriented players in the Mobile Satellite Services sector.

05 May 2015

Tampnet, Marlink Partner for Offshore 4G Services

A key aspect of Tampnet’s 4G infrastructure service for offshore communication is low latency. (Image: Marlink)

Marlink and Tampnet have signed a partner agreement for the delivery of offshore Long Term Evolution (LTE) based services in the North Sea. The agreement forms the foundation for Marlink to integrate low-latency 4G services into its established Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) portfolio, which today is used by Marlink equipped offshore support vessels for operational and crew communication in the North Sea. A key aspect of Tampnet’s 4G infrastructure service for offshore communication is low latency…

10 Mar 2015

SpeedCast Partners to Expand Satellite Mobility Portfolio

SpeedCast International Limited has established a distributor agreement with Thuraya Telecommunications Company, a Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator. The new agreement brings new options for satellite mobility solutions for SpeedCast’s global customer base and expands SpeedCast’s mobility product portfolio. Under the agreement, SpeedCast will now have access to Thuraya’s portfolio of innovative mobile satellite products and services, including Thuraya SatSleeve, XT satellite phones, land and maritime broadband terminals.

25 Feb 2015

SpeedCast Acquires Geolink Satellite Services

SpeedCast International Limited announced the acquisition of Geolink Satellite Services, part of the CETel Group. The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition follows SpeedCast’s acquisitions of two satellite industry players, SatComms Australia and Oceanic Broadband, in the Australasia region in the past 12 months. Geolink Satellite Services is a provider of satellite communication solutions in the African market, servicing customers in more than 20 African countries in the oil and gas, mining, media, NGO and maritime sectors. According to global satellite communications service provider SpeedCast…

02 Jun 2014

Thuraya Launches Broadband Satellite Terminal

Thuraya Telecommunications, a Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator, said it has further extended its maritime product portfolio with the launch of Atlas IP, a feature-rich broadband satellite terminal. Thuraya Atlas IP is the second maritime-specific product launched by Thuraya in 2014 and is designed to complement the Thuraya Orion IP broadband terminal by offering a fully-featured voice and data product with additional functionality built in. Designed and manufactured for Thuraya by Addvalue of Singapore, Thuraya Atlas IP is capable of standard IP data transfer at rates up to 444kbps and asymmetric streaming capability of 16kbps-384kbps. Thuraya Atlas IP is available with Thuraya’s range of pricing plans.

13 May 2014

Speedcast Announces Buyout

Speedcast announces buyout; also announces appointment of new Board Director and Chairman. SpeedCast Ltd. announced the buyout of SatComms Australia, a satellite solutions provider in Australia. The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition will further consolidate SpeedCast’s leadership position in the Asia-Pacific region and provide SpeedCast with an expanded presence in Australia. SpeedCast also announced the appointment of Michael Malone as a nonexecutive Board Director and the appointment of John Mackay as Chairman of the Board.

13 May 2014

New WaveCall-Plus VSAT Bundle for MSC Cargo Italy

Photo coutesy of Marlink

The 124 MSC’s vessels will be the first to benefit from AuroraGlobal, the new all-in-one high throughput maritime VSAT offering. MSC Cargo Italy has contracted Marlink to deliver the new WaveCall Plus high-speed Broadband VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) package for its entire fleet of 124 vessels. WaveCall Plus is part of AuroraGlobal, the new multi-band high-speed initiative launched by Airbus Defence and Space in March 2014. Already using VSAT on board its ships, MSC selected…

14 Oct 2013

Broadband Satellite Services Acquires Two Businesses

Broadband Satellite Services Limited (BSS), an investment company based in the North East of England, has completed the acquisition of AND Group & the Satcom Global group of companies. Focused on the satellite communication and telecommunication markets, BSS acquired the two businesses as part of its growth strategy, to expand into all of the key vertical markets within the mobile satellite services sector. The merged group has a geographical footprint covering all of the core markets and revenues of over $100 million. "Combining the network assets of AND Group and Satcom Global fits perfectly within our strategic framework of strengthening our end-to-end solutions capabilities in key areas…

26 Sep 2013

DigiGone Approved for Thuraya Satellite Network

DigiGone announced that its video communications system and software platform has been approved for use with Thuraya’s IP terminals. A mobile satellite services operator, Thuraya is actively rolling out the DigiGone satellite communications solution across their distribution channels in all vertical markets. Optimized for narrowband satellite channels, DigiGone offers high-quality encrypted video and audio conferencing, video streaming, Voice over IP (VoIP), IM Chat and file transfer using a small fraction of the bandwidth needed for other commercial video telecommunication solutions.

09 Sep 2013

SMART Communications Selects Thuraya for Crew Calling Service

Thuraya Telecommunications Company, a Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator, has been selected by SMART Communications of the Philippines for the launch of its new crew calling service, Marino PhonePal. The multiyear deal will see SMART partner with Thuraya on network services and hardware for its maritime voice service. Marino PhonePal is an expansion of SMART’s current crew calling service, from an existing Asia Pacific footprint now to include major sea lanes in Australia, New Zealand, Indian Ocean, Middle East, Africa and Europe.

13 Nov 2012

Thuraya Appoints Regional Director N. America

Thuraya names Joseph R. Francis as Regional Director, North America to support the company's work in the government market sector. Mobile satellite services operator, Thuraya Telecommunications Company's new man will be based in the U.S. and will oversee business development and solidify Thuraya’s support of the government market. His areas of focus will include operations, management and support of service partners and identification of new market opportunities. Mr Francis has over a decade of experience in the satellite and aerospace industry, and has worked for companies such as Honeywell where he supported NASA programs and Loral. He joins Thuraya from SES where he held a variety of management and leadership roles focused on the U.S. Government market.

10 May 2012

Iridium Unveils World's Smallest Two-way Satellite Data Transceiver

Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM), today unveiled the world’s smallest, commercial, two-way satellite data transceiver – the Iridium® 9603. Announced at International CTIA Wireless 2012, the Iridium 9603 is a data module designed for embedding into machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions for remote asset tracking, monitoring and alarming in defense, government, enterprise and consumer markets where existing larger transceivers could not fit. “With the 9603, Iridium is disrupting the global M2M market by becoming relevant to new customer segments such as personnel tracking for consumers and governments as well as fleet, vehicle and heavy equipment tracking and monitoring,” said Joel Thompson, vice president, product management, Iridium.

21 Oct 2011

LightSquared Outlines Plan to Avoid GPS Interference

Marine electronics industry still has major concerns. An official of LightSquared, the company that has been under fire for its plan to offer mobile satellite services that could seriously interfere with Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, told a gathering at the 2011 NMEA International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo that solutions were in the works to prevent disruptions from occurring. “Our integrated network will bring great benefits to wireless users nationwide, but at the same time we’re committed to ensuring this service doesn’t interfere with any GPS devices.

24 Jun 2010

Iridium Expands with South African License

Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) announced the establishment of Iridium South Africa, under which Iridium has licenses to operate, provide and sell mobile satellite services (MSS) in the country. The authorization was provided by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the regulator for the South African communications and broadcasting services. This authorization enables Iridium partners the ability to better address the growing government and commercial enterprise market demand with Iridium products, services and applications in the country. The Iridium low-Earth orbiting (LEO) satellite constellation provides mobile voice and data communications over the entire planet, offering service where no other means of communication exists.

03 Sep 2010

Vizada and Nautical Equip 300 Fishing Vessels

Vizada, independent provider of mobile satellite services, has teamed up with its long-term service provider partner Nautical to provide the Inmarsat FleetBroadband service to more than 300 Spanish fishing vessels, enabling them to comply with new European Union (EU) regulations. The EU regulations came into effect on 1 July 2010 and require all fishing vessels of more than 24-metres (78-ft) to supply reports of catch, trans-shipments, landings and sales electronically to European fishing authorities. Vizada and Nautical have put together a customized communications package based on Inmarsat FleetBroadband to enable fishing companies to easily and cost-effectively transmit this data once recorded.

19 Jul 2011

New Vizada Broadband Packages

Vizada has launched a range of maritime broadband packages integrating Ku-band VSAT and mobile satellite services (MSS), including the newly-launched Vizada XChangeTM. Shipping companies can select the combination of VSAT, MSS hardware and airtime best suited to their needs while being able to upgrade to a higher bandwidth plan or next generation satellite service during or after contract termination. The packages range from unlimited 256kbps VSAT airtime-only starting at $1,500 per month up to an unlimited 1024kbps VSAT plus MSS airtime and hardware back-up, for a monthly fee of $2,750. Customers can choose between a VSAT antenna from Thrane & Thrane…

06 Sep 2011

Thuraya Appoints O’Neill of Boeing as Board Member

Stephen O’Neill, member of the Corporate Board of Directors.

Thuraya Telecommunications Company, an international mobile satellite services operator, announced the appointment of Mr. Stephen O’Neill, President of Boeing Satellite Systems International, Inc (BSSI), as a member of the Corporate Board of Directors. BSSI is one of Thuraya’s strategic shareholders and manufacturer of Thuraya’s leading-edge commercial satellites. The appointment of Mr. Stephen O’Neill will further enhance the partnership between BSSI and Thuraya that traces back to the company’s inception. Mr. O’ Neill has over 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry.

19 Oct 2011

Thuraya Appoints Chenel CFO

Thuraya Telecommunications Company, the leading international mobile satellite services (MSS) operator has announced the appointment of Patrick Chenel as Chief Financial Officer. In addition to leading Thuraya’s financial management, planning and reporting functions, he will also be responsible for maintaining and developing the Company’s relationships with the relevant financial institutions and strategic suppliers across the globe. Prior to joining Thuraya, Patrick was the Chief Financial Officer for the real estate arm of the Qatar Investment Authority, Qatari Diar.

23 Mar 2009

Albacora Deploys Stratos FleetBroadband

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.