Marlink, the maritime communications service provider, is expanding its portfolio with the introduction of new C-band services on the iDirect platform, which will reportedly enhance network efficiency and open up new options for customers using SealinkTM global C-band coverage for business critical applications. The services will, the company claims, be among the first in the industry to utilise DVB-S2 with Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) technology on regional, multi-regional and global maritime C-band.
The implementation of a new state-of-the-art platform for Sealink global C-band coverage has been made possible following the recent upgrade of Marlink’s global VSAT network with the integration of iDirect’s Evolution X5 Satellite Router and latest operating software release
The implementation of a new state-of-the-art platform for Sealink global C-band coverage has been made possible following the recent upgrade of Marlink’s global VSAT network with the integration of iDirect’s Evolution X5 Satellite Router and latest operating software release.
With ‘always-on true broadband access’ offered by Sealink, the company claims, Marlink C-band services are designed for vessels requiring constant, high-speed IP access for converged voice, data and internet applications, all delivered through a single platform. Current generation customised Sealink services already offer, according to a company spokesman, high levels of network efficiency based on the SCPC platform.
The introduction of iDirect features such as Automatic Beam Switching on Sealink C-band reportedly enables seamless, virtually global coverage and enhanced quality of service with data rates based on customer requirements, ranging up to 8 Mbps and in some cases beyond. Due to the flexibility inherent in Sealink services, Marlink is, the company claims, able to tailor a communication solution for specific requirements and business critical applications across the maritime transport, oil and gas, cruise and ferry and luxury vessel segments.
“Bringing the iDirect platform to our C-band services is part of our overall strategy to offer increased choice in customised Sealink services, which are available alongside our standardised WaveCallTM portfolio,” comments Tore Morten Olsen, CEO, Marlink. “The use of DVB-S2 with ACM is new to maritime VSAT on C-band and we believe that the seamless communication that this technology enables is very attractive for vessels with high requirements for bandwidth and quality of service on a global basis.”
Commenting on the significance of the new C-band services for customers across the region, Magne Remoy, Marlink Director for Middle East, Africa and India said, “The introduction of ACM on Ku-band is highly significant as it helps to ensure maximum service uptime for maritime vessels by automatically adjusting signal strength to overcome rain or solar fade outages. This is highly significant for our customers who already enjoy higher bandwidth in the Middle Eastern region which benefits from more sustained periods of clear weather. Many of these customers however are also operating in areas with traditionally higher rain fade or humidity such as India and Indonesia. The ACM is also available for the more robust and global C-band technology, meaning that more remote vessels like seismic, adventure cruisers and research vessels can burst up to higher bandwidth with greater capacity than they might have previously expected.”
Sealink services are uplinked from Marlink owned Teleports.
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