Intelsat: Ship-to-shore data traffic could increase by 60% in coming 3 years
McLean: Demand for broadband connectivity at sea has never been greater with shipping companies using broadband access to improve day-to-day operations and profitability while also enhancing life onboard for their crews. Providing details of this growth in demand is Kurt Riegelman, an SVP with Intelsat, a man with 25 years experience in the sat comms business.
“In the commercial shipping sector alone, vessel operators believe ship-to-shore data traffic could increase by nearly 60% over the next two-to-three years,” Riegelman tells Maritime CEO. The primary driver, he says, is owners seeking more bandwidth to drive operational efficiency, but they must also satisfy crewmembers, who bring onboard an average of three devices apiece and want access to social media and online entertainment.
The expected increase in maritime services demand is forecast to grow from 9 gbps in 2015 to 90 gbps in 2024, according to Euroconsult.
“Shipping companies are looking to extend and upgrade their networks, but in a cost effective and secure manner,” Riegelman explains.” As they advance their fleet infrastructure, the challenge they face is in making an investment in network technology that can satisfy communications needs today and at least 10 years from now.”
In 2016 Riegelman’s company will begin delivering higher performance broadband via the Intelsat EpicNG platform. This global, high-throughput satellite (HTS) has a throughput in the range of 25 to 60 gbps per satellite, about 10 times that of traditional satellites and triple that of next-generation Ka-band maritime solutions.
“All of our efforts are focused on maximising satellite’s traditional advantages of reach, ubiquity, reliability, point to multi-point economics and security, to the benefit of our customers. We will deliver higher performance, better economics and simplified access, and this combination will solve the challenges facing our maritime customers today and in the future,” Riegelman concludes.
