Intelsat and
Marlink to Bring
Affordable, High
Speed Broadband
Connectivity to
Maritime
Customers
Marlink and
Intelsat
S.A.announced
that their
strategic
agreement –
initiated in
2014 to
introduce
improved
maritime
offerings to the
marketplace –
continues to pay
dividends for
the companies
and the maritime
end-users.
Marlink
continues to
roll out
additional
connectivity
services via
Intelsat’s
Globalized
Network which
includes secure
access to
Intelsat’s
global Ku-band
capacity and
terrestrially
managed network,
IntelsatOne.
Marlink is now
preparing to
deliver a
quantum
improvement in
throughput that
will help
satisfy end-user
demand as the
first of the
Intelsat EpicNG
satellites is on
schedule to be
integrated into
the network
solution in the
second quarter
of 2016.
The surge in
data across the
maritime sector
helped drive the
creation of the
partnership
between Marlink,
the leader in
maritime VSAT by
market share,
according to
Comsys, and
Intelsat, the
leading provider
of maritime
broadband
services for FSS
operators in C-
and Ku-band,
according to
NSR. This strong
partnership has
already yielded
value for
end-users.
Marlink’s new
and existing
customers, such
as Rickmers and
Stena
Line, leverage their innovative
applications for
vessel
operations in
addition to
enhancing
passenger and
crew
connectivity
services over
Intelsat
satellites.
Along with
access to
Intelsat’s
Globalized
Network, the
agreement
enables Marlink
to supplement
its existing
maritime VSAT
services with
the high
throughput
Intelsat EpicNG
platform.
Intelsat EpicNG
is backwards
compatible with
Intelsat’s
existing Ku-band
and C-band
network and will
deliver higher
throughput and
power to enable
the use of
smaller
terminals in the
maritime sector.
The “Intelsat
EpicNG-ready”
design of the
Marlink network
will enable
maritime
customers to
cost effectively
and seamlessly
incorporate this
higher
throughput into
their
operations.
Intelsat 29e
is currently
undergoing
in-orbit testing
at its orbital
location at 310°
E and is on
track to begin
operations in
the second
quarter of 2016.
It will provide
coverage over
the Americas,
Caribbean and
the heavily
traveled North
Atlantic route.
Future Intelsat
EpicNG
launches will
ensure that
Marlink and its
customers have
access to a
fully global and
integrated
satellite
solution that
delivers
consistent, high
throughput
services.
Intelsat 33e,
scheduled for
launch later in
the year, will
bring capacity
over Europe,
Africa and Asia,
while Horizons
3e will complete
the Intelsat
EpicNG
global footprint
in 2018.
“The coverage
and throughput
that Intelsat’s
Globalized
Network delivers
are critical
features that
help us stand
out in a
competitive
market,” said
Tore Morten
Olsen, President
Maritime,
Marlink. “Even
more
importantly, the
flexibility to
choose and
control the
design of our
networks enables
us to
cost-effectively
meet end-user
demand
regardless of
location, a
critical feature
given that our
customers
operate around
the globe. The
higher power and
performance
delivered by
Intelsat EpicNG
will support our
provision of
high speeds
which will
support our
users across all
maritime
segments, but
will be
particularly
relevant to
offshore and
cruise vessel
customers who
depend on high
levels of
reliable
bandwidth in
daily
operations.”
Kurt
Riegelman,
Senior Vice
President,
Global Sales and
Marketing,
Intelsat, said:
“The confidence
that Marlink has
shown in
Intelsat has
affirmed our
position as the
number one
provider of
wholesale
satellite
communication to
the maritime
sector.
Marlink’s growth
– even before
the first
Intelsat EpicNG
satellite begins
operations –
confirms that we
have taken the
right approach
with our HTS
platform. Our
customers can
differentiate
and add more
value to their
offerings. With
maritime
services demand
forecasted to
grow, this will
help them take
advantage of an
attractive
opportunity.”
