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Satellite Communication Services News

13 Jul 2020

COMSAT Bolsters Inmarsat Network

COMSAT Santa Paula, Calif. teleport bolsters Inmarsat network (Photo: COMSAT)

Satellite connectivity solutions provider COMSAT said it is extending the life of Inmarsat’s existing satellites through the leasing of an additional antenna at COMSAT’s Santa Paula, Calif. Teleport. The newly leased 12.8m antenna is transmitting and receiving in both C-band and L-band frequencies, bolstering capacity for the Tracking, Telemetry and Command (TT&C) and traffic operations of the Inmarsat satellite network. The Santa Paula teleport hosts Inmarsat’s Standard C equipment…

16 Jan 2019

Polar Radio Communication, Navigation Norms Getting Ready

International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Polar Code helps ensure that ships operating in the harsh Arctic and Antarctic areas take into account extremes of temperature and make sure critical equipment remains operational.Draft guidance for navigation and communication equipment intended for use on ships operating in polar waters is expected to be finalized by the current session of the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR 6, 16-25 January).The guidance will include recommendations on temperature and mechanical shock testing, and on how to address ice accretion and battery performance in cold temperatures.The Sub-Committee will also consider the report of the 14th meeting of the Joint IMO/ITU Experts Group on maritime radiocommunication matters.

20 Sep 2018

Norwegian Marine Tech: In the Driver’s Seat

Earlier this summer Maritime Reporter & Engineering News ventured to Ålesund/Sunnmøre area of western Norway visiting local manufacturers and suppliers serving the global maritime industry and featuring a series of business and technology presentations by leading sector companies including Inmarsat, VARD Group, Ulstein Group, Brunvoll, Ulmatec, Jets, ABB Marine & Ports, Fostech AS and Rolls-Royce Marine. Tom Mulligan reports on new business developments and technology innovations…

20 Feb 2018

IMO on Distress and Safety at Sea

Seafarers depend on a robust distress and safety system when life is in danger at sea. This week’s meeting of the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (19-23 February) will be focusing on core areas of International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s work relating to safety at sea. The meeting will review progress in its ongoing work to modernize the Global Maritime Distress and Safety system (GMDSS). The GMDSS was adopted in 1988 to ensure full integration of maritime radio and satellite communications so that distress alerts can be generated from anywhere on the world’s oceans. The modernization plan aims to update the provisions, including allowing for the incorporation of new satellite communication services.

11 Jul 2017

AST to Supply VSAT to 30 SEACOR Vessels

Satellite communication services and solutions provider the AST Group said it has recently won a contract with SEACOR Marine International to supply VSAT and failover satellite communications to 30 vessels. The agreement sees AST supplying VSAT and back-up communications for SEACOR’s North Sea and West African fleets providing bandwidth for VOIP and data services over multiple satellite networks enabling vessels to move freely from region to region with no disruption. With SEACOR’s fleet operating in the challenging OSV market, a flexible, affordable and reliable solution was required. As well as competitive pricing and 24/7 support SEACOR Marine were able to benefit from AST’s unique INTEGRA network providing real time application identification and control…

07 Jan 2013

VSAT Communications Upgrade

Marlink bundles WaveCall Ku-band, Inmarsat FleetBroadband and XChange for seamless communications and full control on board De Poli Tankers. Marlink has completed a series of new VSAT installations aboard De Poli Tankers BV vessels. The recent communications upgrade project was carried out in close co-operation with Maritime Performances BV and started with the installation of Marlink WaveCall Ku-band VSAT services aboard the chemical tanker Miro D. Based near Rotterdam, De Poli Tankers BV is the commercial operator of a fleet of six sophisticated IMO 2 chemical tankers, two LPG tankers and one Ice classed 1A chemical/ethylene tanker. Vessel management is the responsibility of Maritime Performances BV, De Poli's in-house affiliate.

25 Jan 2012

Frontline Commits 100 Vessels to Inmarsat XpressLink

Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communication services, today announced that Frontline, the world leader in the international seaborne transportation of crude oil, has committed to Inmarsat XpressLink for more than 100 vessels from its existing fleet and its planned new builds. “We evaluated the providers and made a purely commercial decision about XpressLink from Inmarsat,” said Kjell S. Langva of Frontline Management AS. “The choice was made after a year of positive experience with VSAT from Ship Equip”. “The cost-benefit profile and the unmatched failover capability, which offers unlimited usage on Inmarsat FleetBroadband, was key to the decision. Also Inmarsat’s ability to deliver made up the additional element in making the choice,” he said.

07 Oct 2011

Ship Equip: 1000 VSAT Systems in Operation

Ship Equip, a maritime VSAT communications provider, announced an important landmark of 1,000 operational VSAT systems. This achievement also coincides with the start of the first XpressLink deliveries. XpressLink is a managed service with VSAT and FleetBroadband communication in one integrated package, acting as a bridge to the Global Xpress satellite communication services planned for launch by Ship Equip’s owner Inmarsat in 2013. The flat fee XpressLink service delivers 512 Kbps/512 Kbps with a minimum average data rate of 128 Kbps. “As the acceptance of VSAT caught on, we took a decision to plan for large numbers of customers”, COO  Esben Flo says.

06 Oct 2011

Ship Equip: 1000 VSAT Systems in Operation

Ship Equip, a maritime VSAT communications provider, announced an important landmark of 1,000 operational VSAT systems. This achievement also coincides with the start of the first XpressLink deliveries. XpressLink is a managed service with VSAT and FleetBroadband communication in one integrated package, acting as a bridge to the Global Xpress satellite communication services planned for launch by Ship Equip’s owner Inmarsat in 2013. The flat fee XpressLink service delivers 512 Kbps/512 Kbps with a minimum average data rate of 128 Kbps. “As the acceptance of VSAT caught on, we took a decision to plan for large numbers of customers”, COO  Esben Flo says.

21 Mar 2011

Marlink Secures Contract Renewal with Fugro-Geoteam

Marlink, the global provider of maritime satellite communications, has recently extended its contract with seismic vessel operator Fugro-Geoteam for a further five years. As part of the latest agreement, Marlink will supply its innovative Sealink(TM) VSAT service to the seismic vessels via Marlink's Eik teleport in Norway, providing 512 Kbps of bandwidth and 10-15 telephone lines for each vessel. "For safe, efficient and reliable operation of our vessels worldwide, it's important to have satellite communications solutions that we can trust.

03 Mar 2011

Iridium Developing Satellite Communications Solutions for Maritime Piracy Situations

As you know, maritime piracy has been in the news lately. As of Feb. 28, the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Center (http://www.icc-ccs.org/home/piracy-reporting-centre/piracynewsafigures) reported that pirates were holding 33 merchant vessels and 711 crewmembers pending ransoms. In 2011 alone, these gangs captured 13 ships and 243 hostages - an average of more than one ship per week. The seafarers are being used as human shields to forestall rescue attempts by military teams, and are being subjected to increasing levels of severe mistreatment by their captors – including torture and even execution. Despite the presence of scores of warships from multiple navies…

04 Aug 2010

MTN Provides VSAT to Crystal Cruises

MTN Satellite Communications (MTN), global service provider of communications, connectivity, and content services to remote locations around the world, announced that it has been awarded a five-year contract extension with Crystal Cruises to provide its VSAT satellite communication services. According to Brent Horwitz, senior vice president, MTN cruise and ferry services, MTN will continue providing a full range of satellite communication services for guests and crew, including onboard cellular phone service, OceanPhone crew calling, inbound dialing, and MTN Worldwide TV. The agreement calls for each ship to have a guaranteed committed information rate (CIR) of 1 MB with the ability to burst to significantly higher bandwidth levels. www.mtnsat.com

08 Mar 2004

Security: Ship Security Alert Systems (SSAS)

The new Ship Security and Alert Systems (SSAS) regulations were adopted by International Maritime Organization (IMO) to enhance maritime security in response to the increasing threat from terrorism and piracy. After July 1, 2004, most deep-sea passenger and cargo ships must be fitted with a device that can send an alert message containing the ship's ID and position whenever the ship is under threat or has been compromised. The distress message must be activated covertly from a switch on the navigation bridge or other shipboard location, and transmitted only to the designated authority without being received on other ships or raising an alarm on the ship under attack.

08 Mar 2004

Feature: Losing Contact ... Not an Option

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.

20 Mar 2002

Telenor Launches Marlink

Telenor Satellite Services announced that it has formed a new company, Marlink, to provide a wide range of mobile satellite communication services, mainly for customers in the maritime sector. Marlink will act as a 'multi-supplier' of mobile satellite airtime providing communication services from a number of suppliers, including but not limited to Telenor. Marlink will also provide traffic accounting services, hardware and value-added services. "Marlink will be able to provide customers with flexible communication package solutions matching their specific needs and choices in this rapidly changing market. "In launching the new company…

16 Mar 2002

MTN Enters The World

Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN), a Verestar company, has signed a three-year contract with ResidenSea to become the exclusive telecommunications provider for its new vessel, The World, the first resort community at sea that continuously runs around the globe. MTN was awarded the competitive contract in collaboration with Norwegian agent, General Industry Systems, located in Stavanger, Norway. Specialists in providing communications facilities for all maritime vessels as well as the cruise line industry using total global satellite services, MTN will install its Digital Ship Earth Station (DSES) onboard The World within the next few months.

09 Nov 2000

Sait-Stento Goes Inland With Satcom

Sait-Stento has expanded its satellite communication services to address the communication needs of onshore users in addition to its maritime user base. The company's services include traffic accounting activities, airtime selling and value added services. Adding on to this will be ISDN high-speed data technology. Sait-Stento's Airtime Services Business Unit (ATS) is launching a special program for mobile users and telecommunication operators called M4Land, which is one of the largest Inmarsat providers in the world.

03 Nov 1999

Inmarsat To Concentrate On High Bandwidth Multimedia Services

As per the company's Board of Directors, Inmarsat has decided, after a comprehensive detailed analysis, that it will not be proceeding any further with direct investment in ICO Global Communications (Holdings) as it is not sufficiently compatible with Inmarsat's future growth strategy. "Our strategy is to focus on delivering global high bandwidth integrated multimedia mobile satellite communication services to the corporate market, and we are aggressively developing our business growth strategy in line with this," said Michael Storey, Inmarsat's president and CEO.

04 May 2001

Iridium Signs Agreement With Sait Communications

Iridium Satellite LLC has signed a non-exclusive agreement with SAIT Communications S.A. top-tier service provider of the only truly global, truly mobile satellite voice and data solution with complete coverage of the Earth's oceans, airways and Polar Regions. SAIT Communications S.A. (Former SAIT RadioHolland) currently provides satellite services for remote maritime, government and military users in Western Europe, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Asia Pacific and the Americas. SAIT's agreement with Iridium will enable it to provide its customers with a versatile communications service that will address customers' needs to stay in touch when operating in remote locations around the world.

21 Jan 2003

Telemar Scandinavia Takes Over Mobile Satellite Business from TeliaSonera Sweden

An international business group lead by Compagnia Generale Telemar S.p.A. in Italy and Lagumar Marine AB in Sweden has formed Telemar Scandinavia AB which has acquired 100 percent of the shares in Telia Maricom AB. The acquired Telia Company, operating under the new name of Telemar Satellite Services AB, is taking over all Telia’s businesses and activities within the area of mobile satellite communication, including Inmarsat, Iridium, Globalstar as well as e-mail and data services via satellite and the Swedish telex network. The present staff from Telia Maricom AB is also joining the new company. Telemar Scandinavia will also take over the state-of-the-art DVP/IP platforms for asymmetric broadband services, recently acquired from Telia’s Satellite Division.

26 Oct 2006

Telenor Satellite Services to be Acquired

On October 25, 2006, Telenor entered into a definitive agreement with Apax Partners France for the sale of Telenor Satellite Services (TSS) to funds managed by Apax Partners for $400 million. Since 2002, Telenor has defined Telenor Satellite Services as non-core business. Apax Partners intends to pursue the development of the company in Norway and abroad. Telenor Satellite Services offers communication solutions via satellite to land, air and sea. The transaction will not impact the services provided by TSS and business relations with customers will remain unchanged. "Apax Partners is a very capable owner, and the sale of Telenor Satellite Services is made in accordance with Telenor's strategy to divest business operations that fall outside the scope of our core activities.