The maritime sector of today is more connected than ever before. Vessels of all kinds have effectively become floating offices where the same level of connectivity is in demand at sea as on the shore. Communications on board assist shipping fleet owners, cruise ships and also owners of smaller vessels and yachts to become more operationally efficient and to keep both crew and passengers happy by enabling them to access their mobile devices even whilst away at sea.
To answer this rising demand, Thuraya and partner IEC Telecom, are unveiling a new maritime VSAT service at international shipping exhibition, Posidonia, which is taking place at the Greece Metropolitan Expo from 4 to 8 June 2018. IEC Telecom has been collaborating with Thuraya for some years to deliver maritime communications solutions. In 2016, the companies launched Orion Edge and their FlexiYacht solution earlier this year, which is a broadband Internet solution specifically designed for leisure craft requirements.
“The growing demand for data in the maritime sector coupled with other requirements such as crew retention, remote offices, remote monitoring and maintenance has pushed us to develop our VSAT service,” said Ricky D’Souza, Manager, Market Development Maritime, Thuraya. “We look forward to meeting our valued customers to give them a sneak peek of our new dedicated VSAT+ terminal that provides communication support for a wider range of applications.”
Visitors attending the Thuraya booth will be able to view a wide range of products from Thuraya’s maritime portfolio including the Thuraya Orion IP broadband terminal, the SF2500 voice satellite terminal and the newly launched Thuraya Atlas IP+. Easy to install, Thuraya Atlas IP+ offers managers and crew seamless access to the internet, enhanced connectivity, and high-speed on-board efficiency with best-in-class data rates, as well as driving operational efficiency. The terminal features a single cable connection to the stabilized antenna, direct bulkhead mounting, and built-in Wi-Fi. Through its RJ11 port, it can be connected to any standard analogue or cordless phone. This allows for simultaneous voice and data sessions. The voice calls run via the Thuraya Talk VoIP app, lending a cost-effective service option.
Nabil Ben Soussia, Managing Director at IEC Telecom Middle East, said: “We are pleased to partner with Thuraya at Posidonia 2018. With the expansion of Thuraya’s maritime portfolio into the VSAT market, we have even more of a selection of high-quality equipment and services to offer customers – vital equipment that keeps crew connected with family and friends while away at sea.”