OneWeb has partnered with Marlink for the first live trial of low earth orbit (LEO) connectivity in maritime on two ships
OneWeb’s service will be trialled on ships for the first time and integrated into Marlink’s smart hybrid network at Marlink’s Eik teleport, Norway, with vessel installations set for Q4 2022. These trials will be carried out in co-operation with hardware providers Intellian and Hughes Network Systems.
Marlink will test the OneWeb maritime service, validating throughput, latency and quality and test hardware for stability, signal tracking and handover capability.
“OneWeb will be a valuable addition to the Marlink smart network solutions portfolio, providing further choice for our customers with new LEO services,” said Marlink president for maritime Tore Morten Olsen.
“We will start OneWeb trials on vessels where we can get on board for connecting the hardware and have full access to monitor the system,” he said during the SMM 2022 exhibition in Hamburg.
“LEO will open up new applications and provide better connectivity to cloud services for future digitalisation.”
The first trials will be on an offshore support vessel and on a cruise-ferry where there will be regular opportunities for engineers to go on board for tests and adjustments. Installations will include two Intellian antennas and below-deck terminal electronics.
“New LEO services will need two antennas for high-quality services as there are potential blockage issues,” said Mr Olsen.
Intellian’s new user terminal includes a core module from Hughes Network Systems, enabling very fast handovers between satellites passing overhead. The terminal has been specially designed for the extremes of the maritime environment.
OneWeb vice president of Europe and maritime Carole Plessy said the LEO network will “bring a completely new kind of connectivity to maritime users, providing a high level of quality and performance that will deliver a richer, more immersive and terrestrial-like user experience on board ships.”
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