Broadband Communications News

Inmarsat’s I-6 F1 satellite has connected to new ground stations in Perth and Merredin, Western Australia, as it aims to provide an upgrade in communications availability for the region.I-6 F1 launched in December 2021 and spent seven months travelling to geostationary orbit above the Atlantic. The spacecraft is now at its final orbital slot above the Indian Ocean, and the company will begin increasing its capacity and transition services to the new satellite throughout 2023,…

While the adoption of unmanned/uncrewed surfaces vessels (USVs) was initially in defence, use of these low footprint systems has spread into other sectors, not least survey, and now the race is on for greater capability, endurance and autonomy. Elaine Maslin reports.After starting small, in inland waterways, use of USVs for survey operations has moved into coastal and now offshore waters. Given the extensive amount of seabed and rapid growth in offshore wind, there’s plenty of work out there for them to do.With the travel restrictions posed by Covid and increasing awareness of climate change…

As COVID-19 and a historically weak energy market wreaks havoc on the maritime industry, Christopher J. Wiernicki, CEO, American Bureau of Shipping, tells Maritime Reporter & Engineering News in its May 2020 edition that “COVID-19 will function as threat, a disruptor and catalyst for change, driving class further away from calendar maintenance towards predictive operations. The industry will accelerate its digitally driven movement into condition-based approaches and real-time…

Marlink is unveiling a unique and intelligent threat detection solution for the maritime industry at SMM 2018 this week.Cyber Detection, the latest addition to Marlink’s fully integrated ship and shore-based Cyber Guard portfolio, monitors all outbound and inbound network traffic around the clock and enables customers to view threats affecting their vessels through an intuitive, web-based dashboard. In addition, customers may also set-up notifications on critical threats to be received by email and/or SMS.

Communications company Orbit Communications Systems Ltd. announced today that a major Asian Navy ordered Orbit’s maritime satcom systems totaling approximately $1.1 Million. The order includes several new Ku-band OceanTRx 4 systems, as well as spare parts for existing Orbit systems.“We are encouraged by this significant order from a longstanding customer,” commented Orbit President and CEO, Eitan Livneh. “Naval vessels equipped with our forward-looking OceanTRx 4 systems have a real competitive edge.”OceanTRx 4 is a 1.15m (45”) maritime stabilized VSAT system supporting X, Ku and Ka bands. Due to its outstanding RF performance, system availability and dynamic response under virtually any sea conditions…

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.

A Marlink commissioned survey of Asian ship owners has confirmed that many shipping companies are ready to embrace the increased capacity and greater data usage enabled by maritime VSAT. Marlink initiated the survey to further deepen its understanding of the Asian markets, align its service development roadmap and ensure the specific needs of Asian customers are met with flexible, cost-effective and innovative new communication services. A key finding of the survey showed that…

Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communications, has confirmed the successful launch of the fourth, high-speed broadband communications satellite in its transformational Global Xpress (GX) constellation. Inmarsat GX is the world’s first globally available, broadband connectivity service and was created to enable communities across the world to benefit from the emerging digital society. Inmarsat-5 F4 (I-5 F4) was launched by SpaceX on a Falcon 9 rocket at 00:21 (BST) / 19:21 (ET) from the historic launch pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Frank Coles, Transas CEO, delivered the keynote speech at the Transas Global Conference in Malta. We are faced with the perfect storm in the next few years. Many will conclude it is all the fault of President Trump, but in fact it is actually nothing to do with him. If anything he is going to enable the industry to think smarter because he is also bringing change. The perfect storm is the one confronting the maritime industry. It is one which will disrupt all elements of the shipping industry – is technology-driven and in some cases is also self-inflicted.

The U.S. Navy awarded a contract modification to General Dynamics Mission Systems to build and deliver more than 30 new AN/USC-61(C) Digital Modular Radios (DMR), along with related materials and equipment for new Navy surface vessels and submarines. The software-defined radios are a mission critical communications hub for Navy vessels and submarines. The contract modification exercises the sixth option to a contract awarded to General Dynamics in 2010. A majority of the work will be done at General Dynamics’ Scottsdale, Arizona, location. “This contract demonstrates the Navy’s continuing trust in DMR as it keeps pace with new and innovative communications technology for sailors and their commanders to securely connect with one another anywhere…

Examining some questions regarding commercial autonomous and drone ships, as well as why VSAT currently presents the best solution for the communications and control of such vessels. The topic of autonomous shipping has been much in the news recently. We have seen, for example, the announcement in September 2015 that Inmarsat has begun participating in the Advanced Autonomous Waterborne Applications Initiative (AAWA) recently launched by Rolls Royce. This initiative is designed to move autonomous shipping from the drawing board to a commercial reality.

Norwegian Escape, the newest and largest of Norwegian Cruise Line’s 14-vessel fleet, experienced a record-breaking social media milestone during its inaugural celebrations from October 22-November 11, 2015. Cruisers logged 576,896 Facebook posts, 14,150 tweets and 11,367 Instagram posts for a total of 159 million impressions, surpassing the cruise line’s “social media usage at sea” record set during the 2013 inaugural events for Norwegian Breakaway, exceeded in 2014 with the Norwegian Getaway.

Inmarsat welcomed the President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Xi Jinping to its London headquarters, as part of the President’s historic State Visit to the UK. The visit reflects the close working relationship between Inmarsat and China. China was one of the eighty-six countries that came together to found Inmarsat with a maritime safety mandate and over thirty five years later Inmarsat continues to contribute to safety and security in Maritime and Aviation and more recently during disaster situations in China. President Xi, accompanied by HRH The Duke of York, the Chinese Ambassador to London, Mr Liu Xiaoming, The Right Honourable Greg Hands and Inmarsat executives…

SpeedCast International Limited (SpeedCast), a global satellite telecommunications service provider, announced that it has been awarded a multi-year communications contract by international shipping company, Vroon. The new Ku-band satellite service will facilitate high-performance broadband connectivity with multi-megabit speeds, providing “hotel experience” Internet facilities for Vroon clients aboard specific categories of vessels. These include subsea-support vessels (10-25 passengers)…

Transformation in the maritime communication sector continues, as Airbus Defense and Space announces plans to sell its commercial satellite communications business. MR spoke with Erik Ceuppens, SVP, Satellite Communications, Airbus Defense & Space Communications, Intelligence & Security (CIS), to help put the development in perspective. The maritime communications sector has been in near continual flux for nearly two decades, with merger and acquisition activity a constant. In tandem with development of innovative software solutions…

Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) announced today that the Group posted quarterly revenue of $1.59b for the second quarter ended 30 June 2014 (2Q2014), which is comparable with the prior year’s revenue in the same period. The Land Systems sector saw lower revenue due to fewer deliveries in its Automotive business group in the second quarter. The other three sectors - Aerospace, Electronics and Marine registered growth of between 6% and 12% year-on-year. In 2Q2014, all sectors except for the Electronics sector, recorded lower profit before tax (PBT) resulting in a 12% drop in Group PBT to $163.7m from $186.9m in the same period last year.

ITU World Telecommunications and Information Society Day - WTISD 2014, was celebrated on 16th May 2014 at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva to mark the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865 and the creation of the ITU. Broadband for Sustainable Development was the theme of the high level meeting that took place on the occasion and which was attended by the IMSO Director General. industries, conduct long distance diagnosis and treatments in remote locations, and promote innovative educational applications around the world. All of these elements mentioned by the UN Secretary-General are relevant to communications at sea: monitoring transport systems…

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.

MTN grants Lifetime Achievement Award to pioneer of broadband communications at sea, Richard Hadsall. The CEO and president of MTN Satellite Communications (MTN), Errol Olivier resently made the award at the company's Town Hall. Richard Hadsall , chief technology officer of MTN Government Services, pioneered the first C-band and Ku-band satellite broadband communications (TV, voice and data) at sea in the 1980s. Thanks to Hadsall's innovation, today MTN delivers critical satellite and terrestrial communications to most of the world's cruise lines.

KVH TracPhone V3-IP goes fully global for commercial mariners as it pairs up with integrated Iridium OpenPort Broadband Service. Coinciding with the introduction of its new TracPhone® V3-IP satellite communications system, KVH Industries, Inc., announces availability of an integrated service package that pairs its exclusive mini-VSAT Broadbandsm service with the Iridium OpenPort® broadband service for seamless, fully global connectivity. The new TracPhone V3-IP will provide coverage throughout the extensive Ku-band mini-VSAT Broadband global coverage offering, with Iridium OpenPort service extending that to remote regions including the polar areas.

KVH Industries, Inc. report that demand for broadband connectivity is increasing among service providers in the oil and gas industry. KVH's exclusive mini-VSAT Broadband service is delivered by an interlaced network of 14 Ku-band satellite transponders providing seamless worldwide coverage north of the equator and around all major continents, including most major shipping routes south of the equator. The manufacturers say that they are meeting the demand for reliable, mobile…

Globe Wireless, a  provider of communications, operational and IT solutions to the maritime industry, has announced Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Skipsrederi AS has selected the Dual Globe iFusion system as the communication solution for both SKS Tankers Holding AS and KGJS Cement Holding AS. The Dual Globe iFusion  solution provides full featured redundancy and reliability for vessels. The dual terminal FleetBroadband configuration allows one Globe iFusion  terminal to act as the primary communication system with the secondary Globe iFusion  terminal acting as a backup.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd contracted to upgrade undisclosed navy's IP-based satellite communications system. As part of the contract, Gilat will deliver redundant SkyEdge II hubs, RF transmission capability and VSAT terminals that offer increased bandwidth efficiency throughout the Navy units. The increased bandwidth will allow enhanced connectivity to the Internet, video and other high-speed, broadband services while also enabling strategic military communications on board the Navy's mobile vehicles. "Gilat's SkyEdge II solution was selected for its advanced bandwidth utilization capabilities, a crucial commodity for any navy operating on limited and restrictive allocation of bandwidth resources," said Stephane Palomba, Regional VP for Asia, Gilat.