Maritime
Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, has reached an agreement with long-standing customer Atlantic Offshore to implement Fleet LTE across the Norwegian offshore service provider’s multifunctional fleet. The commitment will ensure vessels maintain continuous access to high-speed, low-latency connectivity in the North Sea during their offshore supply, seismic support and oil recovery duties.
As an all-in-one solution, Fleet LTE will allow the vessels to connect to 4G offshore fibre networks when in range and Inmarsat’s market-leading Ka-band service, Fleet Xpress, when sailing beyond LTE coverage zones. Switchover between the services is a seamless, fully automated process, ensuring no loss of connectivity when transiting from one area to another. Fleet LTE also includes access to FleetBroadband’s resilient L-band coverage for unlimited back-up with 99.9% network availability.
On top of meeting Atlantic’s internal business requirements, Fleet LTE supports a happy and motivated workforce by allowing seafarers to maintain contact with friends and family and access online entertainment in their spare time on board. It also offers a separate bandwidth pipe for charterers, whose allowance Atlantic can upgrade and downgrade in line with demand.
Ove Gjerstad, QHSE Manager/ Chartering and Operation, Atlantic Offshore Management AS, said: “Following our positive experience with Fleet LTE on board one of our vessels, we opted to roll the solution out across our entire fleet. Seamless communications across three modes of connectivity provided by one trusted partner mean we can rest assured that our vessels are always connected, with no risk of drop out during transit, no hidden costs and no juggling multiple contracts.”
Scott Middleton, Regional Director North Europe, Inmarsat Maritime, said “Through Fleet LTE, North Sea operators like Atlantic Offshore can meet the ever-growing demand for high-speed crew internet, which is crucial for both regulatory compliance and competitiveness in recruitment. The solution also provides an advantage with charterers, allowing operators to offer their clients a cost-effective onboard connectivity service that does not compromise on quality.”
Launched in 2020, Fleet LTE also covers the Gulf of Mexico, and is part of Inmarsat’s wider investment plans for the maritime and offshore industries. The next step in Inmarsat’s technology roadmap is ORCHESTRA: a unique ‘dynamic mesh network’ combining existing geosynchronous satellites including ELERA (L-band) and Global Xpress (Ka-band) with low-Earth orbit satellites and terrestrial 5G. The network will offer the lowest average latency and highest average speeds available in shipping.
Inmarsat Maritime is now a Viasat business and continues to power the digitalisation of the maritime industry, making operations more efficient and safer than ever before. Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. On May 30, 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
Inmarsat Maritime is based in Viasat’s global international business headquarters in London, United Kingdom. For further information about Inmarsat Maritime, follow us on LinkedIn.
