VSAT Spot

A clear understanding of the technology available is critical in ensuring you make the best decision.With a VSAT solution, business critical applications can be run onboard since unlimited bandwidth is included within the fixed monthly price. Instant access to more ‘data hungry’ applications, such as Local Area Networks, weather information, route planners, remote monitoring, etc. can offer significant improvements to operational efficiency.

 

As the VSAT solution may enhance your business performance ..
* Vessels will be part of your LAN (Local Area Network) on land
* Vessels can run many of the applications
* More effective maintenance planning, quality assurance can be executed onboard
* Crew can participate to the education and training
* Remote updates and maintenance of the onboard PC network and servers can take place
* Large video and photo files can be sent quickly
* Crew can participate in conference calls and video conferences
* Remote monitoring and control of fuel consumption can reduce fleet operational costs

 

                                                 B.Y.O.D.  (Bring Your Own Device)

In today’s job market, crew are demanding greater access to the Internet and the shortage in skilled and qualified crew is forcing the industry to respond. Likewise, the ‘Bring Your Own Device – BYOD’ trend where staff use their own smartphones, tablets and laptops on an employer’s network is taking off at sea. According to researchers, revealed that a growing number of seafarers see on board Wi-Fi connectivity as essential in order to use their own devices aboard ships. social media, was highlighted as one of the most popular web destinations for crew whilst it was also revealed that many seafarers are prepared to pay for connectivity.

 

VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal)  and  MSS (Mobile Satellite Services)

Fleet and vessel operators are continuing to move towards VSAT solutions on Ku-band, C-band, and soon Ka-band over traditional L-band (MSS) communications. L-band solutions such as Iridium OpenPort & Pilot and Inmarsat FleetBroadband are now becoming common back-up solutions for ship owners using VSAT, but who still want connectivity in remote areas like the North and South Pole.

 

In recognising this increasing demand for VSAT and MSS solutions, Service Providers are more commonly now offering bundled solutions with VSAT packaged together with MSS back up. Some SPs even offer an ‘all-in-one’ type solution with VSAT, MSS, hardware and software. Even many new, faster MSS services cannot cost effectively support business critical operations today, in the same way that VSAT supports daily communications onboard.

 

With VSAT, vessels are always connected to the Internet and are not forced to use the system restrictively or limit access when a cost threshold is approaching, or worse, cease access all together when a limit is met.

 

VSAT Strengths
* Cost benefits of VSAT
* Crew Welfare
* VSAT Reliability
* VSAT Flexibility & Scalability
* Security (VPN)
* Fast Deployment
* Bandwidth Efficiency
* Support for Real time Applications
* Automatic Beam Switching

 

Communication costs are easier to predict and control with the fixed monthly charges associated with VSAT, as opposed to the pay-as-you-use system more commonly associated with MSS communications.Larger deployment of TDMA networks offers a comparable service to SCPC networks, but sharing and segmenting bandwidth across vessels (through TDMA) offers further

cost reductions. 

 

Considerations when choosing a Service Provider:
* Geographic support available
* The size of the Service Provider
* The amount of experience they have
* How many years has the Provider existed - this can be an indication of their longevity and stability
* Owned Network or VNO (leased Network)
* Experience and knowledge

Considerations when choosing a Product:
* Customised or Standardised ?
* Bandwidth Allocation
* Cost Analysis
* Geographic coverage needs
* Onboard IT Applications
* Applications for Crew or Passengers
* Flexibility in contractual terms

 

* Client will be invoiced monthly for the total monthly subscription. Client is responsible for collecting from crew or deducting usage from wages in case the client wish to charge crew for the internet.
* Voice is excluded from monthly subscriptions rates.
* All Hardware and Software below are needed for complete internet package.