Network Operations Center News

Marlink entered an agreement with Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) to supply its satellite voice and data connectivity services for use on five adventure cruise ships in the O.A.T. fleet.Marlink will provide the O.A.T. Small Ships with a suite of solutions; equipment, bandwidth and operations to reliably meet and exceed guest voice and data requirements; uninterrupted voice and corporate connectivity to facilitate ship management tasks; and flexible connectivity services to…

Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) announced that in partnership with its subsidiary, ITC Global, it has been awarded a four-year contract by TUI Cruises for connectivity services to two new-build cruise ships, Mein Schiff 1 and new Mein Schiff 2.The agreement establishes communication capabilities onboard the vessels serving guests and crew, enhancing the user experience during the cruise line's travels across international waters. Germany-based TUI Cruises is a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. Headquartered in Hamburg, TUI Cruises voyages sail across the globe from the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas in Europe…

Vesper Marine designed its Virtual AIS Beacon in 2010 and installed the first solution in 2011. Developed to address the need to make hazards at sea visible when costly physical infrastructure is not appropriate or is impossible to deploy, the Virtual Aid to Navigation technology that Vesper Marine has created is based on the international standardized AIS, which all large ships must use and many yachts and smaller vessels are now choosing to install due to the safety and collision avoidance benefits it provides.

Elcome International said it has completed a satellite communications retrofit program for a major fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers providing broadband data and voice services. “Our team decommissioned the existing VSAT systems and installed new SAILOR 900 antennas and below-deck systems on 40 ships within four months. Most of the installations were performed at sea, and the others were made at ports in eight different countries,” said Jimmy Grewal, executive director of Dubai-based Elcome International.

Satcom Global has announced the launch of Aura: a global VSAT solution offering high quality, high bandwidth connectivity across a variety of customizable packages. Already live on a wide variety of vessels and fixed remote locations around the world following a successful trial period, Aura will set new standards for military, maritime, offshore, and enterprise businesses looking for flexible global communications both at sea and on land. Focused on flexibility, Satcom Global Aura provides customers with a solution tailored to their specific requirements.

MTN Communications (MTN) has expanded its cruise client base with three additional operators leveraging enhanced services for passenger, crew and corporate communications. MTN provides products, solutions and content to address each line’s passenger segment with Internet and calling communications, entertainment and content. Noble Caledonia specializes in “small ships delivering big experiences.”  With the goal of generating lasting memories for like-minded travelers, the operator revolves its itineraries around world events…

MTN Government (MTNGOV), a subsidiary of MTN Communications (MTN) and a company in satellite communications, cybersecurity and integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) solutions serving U.S. DoD and civilian agencies worldwide, announced the introduction of the industry’s first “Social Media Threat Intelligence” managed service. This service is a predictive cyber solution that enables U.S. government agencies using social networking, mobile devices and distributed workforces to protect against the onslaught of cyber threats. The solution identifies and analyzes malicious actors, threats and targeted attacks against U.S. government leaders and agencies, and provides proactive, actionable threat analytics and intelligence in advance of any network compromise.

SRA International, Inc. say they will continue to provide mission-critical support for the U.S. Department of the Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) Information Technology (IT) Afloat Operations. The three-year contract is valued at $56 million, if all options are exercised. MSC is responsible for a variety of missions, including the provision of strategic sealift for the Department of Defense, direct fleet support to the Navy combatant fleet, and conducting special missions involving the operation of ships for Department of Defense components. The MSC Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems (C4S) Directorate (N6) is responsible for MSC C4 systems, encompassing worldwide IT networks and communications.

RigNet has signed a two-year contract extension to continue delivering managed communications for two world-class semi-submersible offshore drilling rigs: Transocean Barents and Transocean Spitsbergen, both operating in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. A high-performance and secure network is a high priority for the oil and gas community, ensuring effective and reliable communications, both offshore and onshore, and access to business-critical IT applications. As part of the contract extension, RigNet will deliver a fully-managed end-to-end IP network solution, relying on VSAT technology for last-mile connectivity, to ensure that the rigs derive greater value from its network services through increased standardization and innovation.

Current headquarters will be relocated to larger commercial space in San Diego, California. Boatracs Inc., a leader in providing integrated satellite communications and software solutions to the maritime industry, announced it has acquired a 12,500 square-foot office building in San Diego, California as a space for their Corporate Headquarters. Boatracs will occupy the building to house general operations, engineering, shipping and its Network Operations Center for 24 hour live customer support.

U.S. Coast Guard Selects Stratos Government Services to Deploy Ku-Band Communications Network. Stratos Government Services Inc. (SGSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc, today announced it was awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on June 17, 2011 to provide USCG Large Cutter Connectivity. SGSI will provide the USCG with Ku-band satellite airtime, installation support, teleport equipment and service, Network Operations Center support and training.

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.

MIRAMAR, Fla. – April 26, 2011 – MTN Satellite Communications (MTN), the global provider of communications, connectivity and content services to remote locations around the world, and ERZIA, the leading provider of VSAT maritime communications in Spain, today announced that their joint venture to develop a teleport in Santander Spain has been completed and is officially open. It now serves as a centralized gateway for MTN’s VSAT communications with coverage over the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The facility is located in Santander, North Spain at 43°27’46’’N, 3°48’18’’W.

Hercules Offshore has invested in a satellite communications system from Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Hughes and Environmental Safety Systems International Corporation (ESSI) are equipping the entire Hercules Offshore fleet of Class 120 to Class 230 liftboats in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, with Hughes satellite-based broadband maritime services. These liftboats, commonly referred to as the workhorse of the offshore industry, are reliable, versatile, and self-contained. They provide a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional pipelay/derrick vessels. With their large, open deck areas, they are self-propelling and self-elevating. The fleet provides a work platform for a wide range of services from coiled tubing and wireline operations to well intervention.

Harris Corporation, (NYSE:HRS) an international communications and information technology company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Global Connectivity Services (GCS) business from Schlumberger Information Solutions, an operating unit of Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB). The acquisition is planned to extend Harris’ capabilities as a global provider of mission-critical, end-to-end managed satellite communications services for customers operating in remote and harsh environments – including the energy, government and maritime industries. Schlumberger GCS will be combined with recently acquired CapRock Communications to form Harris CapRock Communications.

Maritime communications is an estimated $1 billion industry, encompassing ship operators, merchant fleets, governments and private yacht owners. There is arguably no more quickly evolving technical sector in the maritime market than the satellite communications niche. Safety, operational efficiency and quality of life onboard vessels of all type and size today more than ever depends on clear, reliable and cost effective satellite communication services and products. The following reports on recent advances from major service, product and system suppliers. The year started with news that Connexion by Boeing, a business unit of The Boeing Company, would roll-out its high speed satellite broadband capability for the maritime industry.

The competitive satellite communications market has taken an additional step toward consolidation, with Station 12 — an independent operating business owned 65 percent by KPN (Royal Dutch Telecom) and 35 percent by Telstra — leading the way having the intention of cornering the market. Station 12 recently outlined its strategy to double its size in the next three years, both through organic growth and acquisitions. Station 12 already claims to have 24 percent of the competitive Inmarsat maritime and mobile satellite communications sector, with current annual sales of $215 million. This is expected to rise to $500 million by 2003. The company is the largest customer and shareholder in Inmarsat, the leading provider of wholesale satellite airtime.

Intelsat signed a new long term contract for capacity on the IA-6 satellite with CapRock Communications, a leading satellite communications service provider focused on remote industrial markets - including oilfield, construction, maritime, mining, and disaster relief. CapRock has over two decades of experience delivering business class communications, including secure corporate networking and telephony services to companies with operations in hard to reach places. CapRock will provide access to the IA-6 satellite via one of their six international teleports, with fully managed services controlled through their 24/7 global network operations center headquartered in Houston, Texas.

When Iridium, the $5 billion satellite company, fell into bankruptcy on March 18, 2000, it went down as one of the costliest corporate fiascoes of all time. More than one year later, Iridium is back in business, though under completely new ownership. Iridium raised a few eyebrows and a fair share of skeptics with its decision to launch its global satellite communications services. How could the new company prosper when the previous one — using the same technology had failed? Enter Gino Picasso, the company's CEO. Up front and honest, Picasso says that the new Iridium is no pipe dream. Speaking via telephone from a restaurant near Iridium's Tempe, Ariz. offices, Picasso shared his visions and ideas with MR/EN regarding the future of the new company.

Telenor Satellite Services today announced the signing of a business agreement with Anders Utkilens Rederi (AUR) of Norway, one of northern Europe's largest maritime chemical transportation companies. The contract calls for Telenor to provide its Sealink maritime high-speed data communications solution aboard AUR's fleet of 16 chemical tanker vessels. Under the terms of this multi-year agreement, Telenor will provide Ku-Band service for AUR's entire fleet that operates primarily throughout European waters. Sealink's Ku- Band service provides AUR the capability to use high-speed communications applications at sea including LAN and WAN connectivity, video conferencing, and Internet access, while using smaller, less expensive shipboard equipment.

management solutions to the marine industry. Under this agreement, MOBEX will distribute StarTrak's products and services in the marine market throughout North America. StarTrak recently introduced the wireless communications product BargeTrak, a solar powered wireless solution contained in a single package about the size of a notebook. "BargeTrak is an important product that has been in development and trials for the past two years," said Tim Slifkin, StarTrak's founder and President. "In addition to offering increased security, we believe our solution will bring revolutionary changes to the inland and coastal marine industry with significant improvements in barge utilization…