GEO satellites provide reliable maritime communications

A growing market attracted new entrants, with high-profile newcomers providing different solutions.

Eutelsat OneWeb and Starlink provide low-latency, high-speed communications through growing low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations to supplement expanding connectivity services over geosynchronous (GEO) satellites.

These connect ships using Ku-band and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) technology or through Ka-band, such as Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) via GEO constellations, all backed up by reliable L-band.

Although LEO constellations promise higher speeds than GEO, with some offering more than 200 Mbps, this should not be the only factor considered when selecting reliable, effective ship communications for all conditions and geographies.

“It will be important for maritime customers to assess their requirements in terms of reliability, service commitment, and ensure their operational needs can reliably be met, now and into the future,” says Inmarsat Maritime president Ben Palmer, who stresses the vital role of communication systems “in unlocking many of the big issues facing shipping today.” It enables increasingly sophisticated shipping business ecosystems “to function effectively, efficiently and securely and meet expanding crew welfare and training needs.”

As IMO and the European Union require shipping to reduce their onboard carbon intensity and emissions, there is a greater need for “harvesting and collating data to sharpen shipping companies’ competitive edge and helping them to demonstrate compliance with new regulations,” says Mr Palmer.