SkyStream Upgrades VSAT System to Offer On-Demand Service for Luxury Yachts

July 20, 2011  

iDirect, Inc. announced that SkyStream FZ LLC, a Dubai-based provider of connectivity and satellite service solutions, has launched an on-demand TV service based on iDirect’s Evolution product line. SkyStream recently upgraded its satellite system with Evolution, allowing it to increase bandwidth efficiency without disrupting service for existing iNFINITI customers by operating both Evolution and iNFINITI networks on the same iDirect hub. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

Based on the next-generation DVB-S2 standard, Evolution increases SkyStream’s bandwidth efficiency by as much as 30 percent over its previous system. An additional gain of 50 percent is also possible through Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM), an advanced feature of DVB-S2 which iDirect has built into its Evolution product line. SkyStream has used the bandwidth savings it has achieved from Evolution, to expand its coverage area for maritime customers, adding C-band satellite coverage over the Indian Ocean and Far East to complement its existing Ku-band service across the Arabian, Red and Mediterranean Seas.

Further, ACM enables SkyStream to expand its service to a new yachting segment that uses smaller than 1-meter antennas by supporting multiple outdoor configurations on the same network. For both new and existing customers, SkyStream will continue to support high-speed communication applications, including email, voice and data, as well as extended GSM network access and Video-on-Demand.

“We’ve had great success using iDirect’s platform to deliver VSAT broadband access to maritime, oil and gas, and military customers in the Middle East and Africa. As our customer base grew and demanded access to more bandwidth-intensive applications for productivity and recreation, we needed to upgrade our infrastructure to ensure we could provide them with the highest possible efficiency. Our upgrade to Evolution was seamless, with minimal impact to our operations and customers, and we have been very pleased with the added efficiency gains,” said Riyadh Al Adely

“Our platform continues to provide the backbone of SkyStream’s broadband communications service in the Middle East, which have been vital to the success of businesses and militaries in the region. By adding an on-demand TV service and additional coverage over C-band, SkyStream is ideally positioned to meet the communications needs of luxury yachts as they travel across the Eastern Hemisphere,” commented Majdi Atout, Director of Sales - Middle East, iDirect