AI orchestrates connectivity over multiple constellations

In June, Greek satellite communications provider Tototheo Global started to deploy Neuron’s AI-powered QoE management platform on vessels as they increasingly engage with multiple satellite providers and networks.

Shipowners get greater transparency of their network connections and performance and their vessels can switch seamlessly between different services.
This agreement followed proof-of-concept tests verifying Neuron’s QoE analytics solution, Neuron 360, which enhances connectivity robustness, provides performance insights improves onboard connectivity.  

Tototheo is working with its shipowner and operator clients to integrate real-time connectivity data from the antennas, routers and third-party devices on ship’s end-to-end network. Using Neuron, it can provide a holistic view of ship connectivity and QoE on one vendor-neutral platform.

“We ensure networks are reliable, robust and secure, and with AI, we can play with these communications pipes so they are cost effective,” explains Mr Pinkney. “We can automatically share pools of data and use AI and machine learning to offer the most viable, cost-efficient option.”

Neuron Grid manages connectivity pathways for various onboard applications, such as engine condition and cargo monitoring or weather routeing and cloud-connections, separated from the crew welfare traffic. It proactively estimates available bandwidth and orchestrates connectivity, from an application level and by user group.

It can also configure communications priority and switch this rapidly, for example, if there is an incident to prioritise a telemedicine application or emergency communications.

“We can focus as much bandwidth as required to support the crew in dealing with the incident,” says Mr Pinkney. “There are no limits to network capacity, pipes and routes we can use.” Neuron Grid correlates data and makes decisions at pace to maximise QoE against costs.

“We have entered another era of offshore connectivity even at extreme latitudes”

As more LEO providers enter the market, such as Amazon’s Kuiper and Telesat Lightspeed, adoption accelerates and business models continue to evolve, it will be critical shipowners and operators have strategies and tools to manage their QoE.

“Multi-network services are becoming widespread in commercial shipping, which makes it critical there is transparency for the end user on the performance management of connectivity as a whole,” says Tototheo co-chief executive Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou.

“Neuron 360 will ensure more uptime by bringing the visibility that makes it easier, quicker and less costly to resolve shipboard communication issues.”

In June, Tototheo was part-way through a proof of concept with Neuron Grid, which Ms Panayiotou Theodosiou expects will help its clients “reduce their costs in network management, freeing up resources, while ensuring a high-quality experience and delivering even more robust network connectivity.”

She adds, “In the era of multi-network satellite service provision for ships, the speed, accuracy and constant availability of AI to optimise routeing selection will drive better connectivity performance while also eliminating the operating time and money lost to manual interventions.”

Carnival Corp is also using Neuron as a vendor-neutral connectivity management platform for ships in various brands to increase operational efficiencies and reliable internet access on its ships.

Neuron focuses connectivity for guests and crew for browsing, social media and video streaming through onboard wifi networks with Grid delivering connectivity management, including multi-vendor integrations, and AI-powered traffic routeing.

Carnival’s director of global connectivity and destination technology, Paul Marsh, says investing in Neuron enables the group to “have full visibility and control over our connectivity, and to push the boundaries of connectivity innovation with a fresh approach that will accelerate the future of connected cruising and transform the guest experience.”

In July, these innovations enabled one of Costa Crociere’s cruise ships continue providing high QoE connectivity to passengers and crew during voyages into the Arctic.

While Costa Favolosa was sailing off the coast of Greenland with 4,000 guests and crew, the QoE of the internet service never fell below 90%, “resulting in unparalleled usability of all connectivity-related services,” says Costa IT project manager Daniele Mazziotti in a LinkedIn media post. “We have entered another era of offshore connectivity even at extreme latitudes.”

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