Idirect News

Royal Wagenborg renewed and extended Castor Marine’s Global Ku VSAT connection for multiple years.Since 1898 the Dutch family-owned shipping company has been crossing the oceans, evolving to a fleet operator with about 200 vessels. Besides the extension of 52 Global Ku VSAT contracts, Castor Marine will equip an additional 15 Wagenborg vessels, currently on 4G, with VSAT. For more than eight years the company has provided VSAT, Iridium, Inmarsat FBB, and IT services to the Wagenborg fleet.

Satellite communications services provider Intelsat on Wednesday released a smaller antenna class for its FlexMaritime high-throughput satellite (HTS) service geared for leisure, fishing and commercial maritime vessels globally.The new maritime mobility solution enabled by the 45cm antenna is designed to bring a new level of broadband connectivity performance and affordability for fishing, leisure, tugs and other workboats, as well as smaller or coastal merchant ships, Intelsat said.Small enough to hand carry aboard vessels…

As maritime operators deal with challenging operating conditions, many are embracing digitalization as the most reliable way to lower operational costs and improve vessel efficiency.According to research conducted by Lloyds List Intelligence and Ovum, two-thirds of vessels use digitalization systems onboard. According to the executives surveyed, this is being driven by a desire to improve operating efficiency, with 88 percent already working toward that goal. As part of the process…

Globecomm has supplied its global Ku-band VSAT service to specialist shipowner and manager Briese Schiffahrts in support of its fleet growth plans.Long-time Globecomm customer Briese is undertaking a program of fleet renewal, constructing a series of eight ‘Open Top Eco 5000’ multi-purpose vessels, designed to consume 30 percent less fuel but with increased crane and cargo capacity.The first of four ships was christened in mid-April 2018 at Zhejiang Zengzhou Shipbuilding Co with three more of the 90-meter long…

Globecomm, one of the leading providers of maritime connectivity services, has installed a complete communications solution on MV Baltic, the latest newbuild to join the Global Seatrade fleet. To meet demanding connectivity needs, Globecomm delivered its global Ku-band VSAT solution with VoIP services, an Iridium Pilot L-Band system and KNS S8 to enable flat fee internet access and live TV services onboard the new heavy cargo roll-on/roll-off vessel ship. "We congratulate Global Seatrade on the recent launch of the MV Baltic, and are delighted the project offered an opportunity to continue our close partnership," said Malcolm McMaster, president of Globecomm's Maritime division.

Speedcast International Limited provider of fully managed, remote communication and IT solutions, announced it has signed an agreement with government satellite connectivity provider COMSAT to establish a common global service offering of Ku-band very small aperture terminal (VSAT) services for the government and maritime markets. The combined network will leverage Speedcast’s greater than 8 GHz of global satellite capacity and COMSAT’s security-cleared teleports in the United States to deliver a robust, secure network for customers needing advanced, resilient connectivity for critical operations. “The opportunity for collaboration with COMSAT fits very well with Speedcast’s commitment to delivering robust…

SES S.A. (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) today announced the launch of its global SES Maritime+ service that will deliver high-speed connectivity to vessels traversing oceans. SES Maritime+ will enable maritime customers to have easy access to customisable bandwidth and coverage packages, ensuring satellite capacity is effectively utilised. Vessels traversing the oceans will be offered seamless roaming, leveraging SES’s global fleet of over 50 satellites, extensive ground infrastructure of over 20 teleports and more than 6,000 points of presence. The managed connectivity service combines SES’s global network infrastructure and hybrid satellite capacity with the latest technology from VT iDirect…

Telenor Satellite announced the commercial readiness of its THOR 7 Ka-band mobility service. The Ka-band payload offers regional coverage with a favorable look angle over the main European shipping lanes and utilizes high-powered spot beams, providing unprecedented performance for maritime applications. Since the commercial handover of the THOR 7 satellite in June 2015, Telenor Satellite has been carrying out a Ka-band testing program prior to its commercial launch. The final testing phase involved more than 15 customers running sea trials on approximately 30 vessels, with up to 50 remote terminals testing the service across THOR 7’s footprint. Telenor Satellite’s THOR 7 HTS Ka-band service offer 6-9 Gbps throughput with up to 25 simultaneously active spot beams.

Telenor Satellite has announced that its Ka-band satellite capacity packages for land-based services in the Middle East have surpassed initial expectations, reaching more than 200 terminals within the first six months of commercial operation. Telenor Satellite commercially launched its iDirect land-based services for the Middle East and North Africa in Q4, 2015, via its new THOR 7 satellite. Since the launch, more and more customers throughout the Middle East region have contracted our land-based services packages, specifically in countries where there is limited fibre connectivity and satellite is the preferred distribution platform for vital and reliable communication links.

Maritime connectivity provider Globecomm has reported rapid adoption of its new global VSAT service. Globecomm VSAT, powered by iDirect is a high-capacity satellite solution designed to deliver ‘industrial strength’ connectivity to fixed and mobile assets on a global basis. The service provides a broad range of high-throughput applications over a robust, flexible and scalable network designed specifically to deliver shared services and private networks to customers in maritime and energy markets.

Inmarsat, has opened its new Singapore office, which is the company’s largest facility in Asia Pacific region. Inmarsat’s investment in the 1,700 suareq meter office in Toa Payoh, Central Region Singapore, sees the company’s regional hub providing a new solutions lab, demonstration capabilities, training rooms, a knowledge centre and support center, in addition to enhanced production and storage facilities. The opening ceremony was attended by Inmarsat’s CEO, Rupert Pearce, Beh Kain Teik…

Alphatron Marine announced it has signed a leasing agreement with Acta Marine for to provide satellite hardware and data solution packages for 13 vessels. Alphatron Marine’s VSAT system including Wireless access will be integrated into the IT infrastructure on the Acta Marine fleet of Multicats, Tugs and Shoalbusters, enabling an unlimited dataflow for both operations and crew welfare. The vessels will use Alphatron Marine’s new global iDirect platform, the first installation was done just one week after signing the contract on board Coastal Chariot…

Ship owners choosing the Northern Sea Route now have additional coverage from Kara Sea to Pacific Ocean. Radio Holland said it is the first provider who expanded its Global Ku-band VSAT network with additional coverage above Northern Europe/Russia. Recently, the Yamal 402 Northern beam has been added to the Radio Holland Global VSAT Network. With this extra beam Radio Holland offers improved coverage for its customers sailing from the Kara Sea to the Pacific Ocean. At this point of time, parts are free of ice for only two months per year.

Intellian, the leading provider of stabilized marine satellite antenna systems, has partnered with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) to deliver next generation high-speed maritime connectivity via Intellian’s industry leading 60cm and 1M VSAT platforms. Intelligently designed, durable and robust, the Intellian v-Series antennas benefit from all the innovative features that have helped Intellian become the market leader within the VSAT sector. The v-Series products have been designed from the ground up, with ease of installation and use as the defining factors providing a streamlined and proven solution to accessing the THOR-7 high throughput Ka-band satellite. Both the v60Ka and v100Ka include Intellian’s Aptus Remote Control Software with built-in spectrum analyzer.

Canadian shipping company Algoma Central Corporation has renewed and upgraded its VSAT Connectivity contract with technology solutions provider Imtech Marine. The agreement now provides VSAT satellite coverage and airtime Connectivity to 34 vessels which are owned or managed by Algoma. Algoma Central Corporation owns and operates the largest Canadian flag fleet of dry and liquid bulk carriers operating on the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Waterway, including 18 self-unloading dry-bulk carriers, seven gearless dry bulk carriers and seven product tankers.

Richard Simonian is the President of Maritime Solutions, a business unit within Harris CapRock Communications. MR picked his brain for insights on the shape and direction of maritime comms. We understand that you recently unveiled your Advanced VSAT solutions at Satellite 2014. Can you give us a brief on exactly what this is? The problem increasingly being faced by ship and rig operators is that their communication needs are dynamic, yet the traditional buying approach is static. They have had two choices.

VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), today announced that UK-based independent teleport operator Cobbett Hill Earth Station is upgrading the network of its maritime services unit, ION (International Ocean Services) to the iDirect Evolution 3.2 Platform. The acquisition of maritime satellite communications provider ION in 2013 marked Cobbett Hill Earth Station’s expansion into the commercial maritime market, which according to NSR will hold close to 1 million in-service units by 2023. This will be the first in a series of technology investments that Cobbett Hill Earth Station has planned for ION. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

iDirect Government Technologies, Inc. (iGT), a wholly owned subsidiary of VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), today announced the availability of iDX 3.2.3 software, which meets the  military, intelligence and public safety communities growing needs for increased bandwidth and higher throughputs. iDX 3.2.3 features Adaptive Time Division Multiple Access (ATDMA), which improves return channel performance and increases network availability under rain fade and satellite link degradation. The software enables customers to design networks for a typical case scenario instead of worse-case scenario, saving time, costs and complexity without loss of performance.

iDirect Asia Pte Ltd today announced that LiveCom Limited (“LiveCom”), a Hong Kong based ISP, has selected Evolution as the platform to help enterprise and government customers expand their reach beyond the Asia-Pacific market. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology. LiveCom offers satellite based-services such as VoIP, videoconferencing, streaming media and data backup to customers across a broad array of markets including construction, energy, mining, IT consulting and government. Seeing an increasing need for customers to expand services beyond the Asian market, LiveCom knew it needed a satellite platform that would provide the immediacy for market expansion, along with the same level of quality and service.

DOF Group has renewed its VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) services contract with Marlink for five more years, with options to further extend the services. Under the new contract announced at Nor-Shipping 2015, Marlink will provide customized VSAT services to 60 DOF owned offshore and subsea vessels, counting an additional eight vessels on the previous contract, including several imminent newbuilds. As an international group of companies, DOF owns and operates a modern fleet of supply and subsea vessels, offering a strong engineering capacity to service the global offshore energy market.

MTN Communications (MTN) announces its partner, Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian), is pioneering the new iDirect X7 high-performance satellite modem on its Norwegian Breakaway ship. MTN installed the X7 after a six-month test process in its Miramar, Fla. engineering lab. The modem has dramatically improved the efficiency and throughput of the vessel’s communications system, enabling the most cutting-edge Internet service at sea. “Norwegian strives to deliver an unparalleled connectivity experience to passengers and crew…

MSC Cruises has started a fleet-wide optimization installed by Marlink to improve shipboard VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity. MSC Cruises said it is the first cruise line in the world to benefit from the iDX 3.2 software and X7 modem from iDirect. Their cruise lines will receive enhanced service delivery and performance, resulting in higher allowance and richer end-user functionality for ship management, passengers and crew. After successful testing of the iDirect X7 modem in August 2014, Marlink began the rollout across the 12 ships of the MSC Cruises fleet in October 2014.

Imtech Marine expanded its Global Ku-band VSAT network with additional coverage above Europe. Next to the Telstar 12 satellite and the Intelsat 21, the Eutelsat 10A is added to the Imtech Marine Global VSAT Network. With this extra beam Imtech Marine offers improved coverage for its customers in Europe. Especially the yachting market, where 24/7 connectivity via internet is a high requirement, will benefit from this extra beam. By offering three beams in Europe the chance that…