As vessel connectivity evolves, what does LEO mean for shipowners? 

The launch of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites is a game-changer for shipping business software and vessel operations tools - bringing another level of communications availability. “Owners demands are evolving,” said Mr Tore Morten Olsen, “They will need to rely more on communication for their daily work to be performed the most optimal way.” 

The potential for LEO services to enable more cloud-based applications is clear given the promise of high throughput and low latency connectivity, but integration with guaranteed services should be high on shipowners’ agendas. LEO offers higher maximum information rates (MIR) explains Mr Olsen, but this has to be shared with other users. Committed Information Rates (CIR) is guaranteed and owners and operators need different levels of MIR and CIR depending on where they are on the operational optimisation journey and the commitment to sending data ashore, and the commitment to providing crews with their expectations of Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity on the vessel. 

To meet those demands, owners and operators need to evolve the Service Level Agreement (SLA) with their providers and review if their portfolio of guaranteed connectivity meets their current and near-term needs. 

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