Speedcast, Eutelsat And Idirect Partner To Expand Maritime VSAT Service To New Regions And Market Segments

June 28, 2010

SpeedCast Limited and Eutelsat Communications have expanded the reach and capabilities of their global maritime broadband service to address a broader market of end customers. The service now extends across more than 20 Ku-band beams covering nearly all major shipping lanes and offshore markets. SpeedCast and Eutelsat have also introduced a regional service using a 60 cm Ku-band marine antenna for smaller coastal and regional vessels. In addition, customers can now choose from an extensive lineup of lower cost service plans to meet an increasingly diverse range of applications and budgetary needs. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

Broader market reach and service flexibility

The global maritime broadband service, delivered by SpeedCast and Eutelsat, is one of the most widely deployed VSAT offerings in the world. It is relied on by a diverse group of maritime customers, including commercial shipping, tankers, oil and gas offshore platforms, offshore supply vessels, research and survey vessels, navies, cruise liners, yachts, and fishing vessels, for their communication and data needs.

With the smaller form-factor 60 cm marine antenna, the maritime service can now address small-to-mid-size vessels that operate along coastlines and in regional waters, such as yachts, fishing boats, smaller coastal vessels and river vessels. Today, 60 cm Ku-band antenna systems have lower purchase and installation costs compared to larger 1 m Ku-band and 2.4 m C-band systems. SpeedCast has expanded the service coverage by recently launching a 60 cm regional service in the Caribbean, and Eutelsat is set to introduce an additional 60 cm service in the Mediterranean.

SpeedCast and Eutelsat have also expanded their service plan options, introducing lower airtime rates and customized service plans. Customers can tailor a service plan to better match their bandwidth requirements for specific applications and budgets. These plans can be as low as 64 kbps to over 2 Mbps, and are offered as either a shared or dedicated service. The shared service includes dedicated bandwidth options which guarantee a customer’s throughput for enterprise-grade applications, enabling vessels to share bandwidth reliably across a wide range of applications from email and Internet access to real-time ship management software.

The global network is built on the iDirect platform and leverages advanced technologies such as Automatic Beam Switching (ABS) for seamless connectivity across multiple satellite footprints, DVB-S2 encoding for bandwidth optimization, and Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) for optimized power utilization and reliable performance in all weather conditions. These advanced technologies are strengthened by several key capabilities and network management features developed by SpeedCast and Eutelsat:

Seamless global coverage. SpeedCast and Eutelsat have linked more than 20 Ku-band satellite beams into an integrated, global coverage network. Vessels can travel across satellite footprints while maintaining seamless connectivity.
Wide range of antenna sizes and manufacturers. The service operates over a broad selection of Ku-band antenna sizes, from 60 cm to 1 m, and manufacturers, including SeaTel, Orbit, Intellian, KNS and Mitsubishi. SpeedCast and Eutelsat also support C-band antennas and offer L-band services for back-up connectivity.
Advanced monitoring and asset tracking solution. Vessel tracking, network management, service level performance monitoring and more can be accessed via the Web using a value added service called “SMART” (SpeedCast’s Monitoring And Reporting Tools). Customers can access this secure Web-based network management portal, running on iDirect’s SatManage software, for greater visibility and control of their fleet and their business.
Broad range of services for critical communication needs. SpeedCast and Eutelsat also offer a wealth of value added services to meet the needs of maritime customers and ensure optimal network performance and bandwidth utilization for mission-critical applications. These include SpeedTalk for optimized VoIP service, SpeedCam for remote secure video surveillance and SpeedStar for network traffic optimization.
Network installation and management. Customers can also choose a variety of service extras such as customized systems and network design, remote site surveys, installation, commissioning, remote monitoring, maintenance services, network integration and 24/7 customer support.

“As VSAT connectivity becomes a core part of maritime operations across every segment of the industry, we continue to expand the coverage and capabilities of our maritime VSAT network to serve our customers better. Our goal is to support the broadest range of antenna manufacturers and sizes as well as the widest possible broadband plans to meet all our customers’ application requirements and budgets. When it comes to maritime broadband communications, we really do not think that one size fits all. We are committed to providing value added services that enable our customers to maximize their return on this critical technology investment.” Said Nick Dukakis, Vice President for Maritime & Offshore Services, SpeedCast.