Marlink Expands in Japan

Satellite communication provider Marlink said its Tokyo office has relocated to new, larger premises as the company grows its Japan team to meet the needs of an expanding VSAT customer-base in the region.

 

“The new location is over twice the size, which helps us to accommodate more field engineers, technical support and sales staff, in addition to enabling us to build a new service management function for better coordination and smoother operations towards the customer,” said Shinobu Suzuki, Marlink Japan. “The market here is very strong as more ship owners start to recognize the benefits that VSAT can bring to their operations, from helping to recruit and retain crew to providing a platform for digitalization that can transform operations and deliver significant efficiencies.”

 

Marlink’s Japan office, which was first established in 1978, provides proximity to Japanese ship owners and is a key player in the region’s growing use of satcom services. As part of Marlink’s global network of more than 20 first-party facilities, Marlink Japan supports shipping companies to deliver more effective and available connectivity to crew members using services such as Marlink Sealink VSAT and Inmarsat Fleet Xpress.

 

In a double blind survey of Asian shipping companies in 2017, Japanese ship owners came out on top for committing to the use of satcom to improve crew welfare, which is reflected in VSAT customer growth in the region.

 

“Our satcom survey revealed that over 70 percent of Asian ship owners believe that VSAT can deliver a competitive edge and we see that Japan, along with Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea are leading the way in adoption,” said Tore Morten Olsen, President Maritime, Marlink. “With our deep understanding of the market, we believe that it is vital to grow our presence in Japan to ensure we are well-positioned to meet the changing needs of the large shipping industry there.”