The O3b mPOWER connectivity will support both critical and non-critical communications onboard.
SES has announced the deployment of its second-generation medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite system, O3b mPOWER, for a Viasat Energy Services customer operating an offshore vessel in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This marks Viasat Energys first use of MEO satellite technology in APAC and its inaugural implementation of O3b mPOWER services worldwide.
The Offshore Energy mPOWERED solution was deployed in late October 2024 aboard a Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO), providing high-performance connectivity designed specifically for the offshore energy sector. The O3b mPOWER network ensures reliable, high-speed communication onboard, supporting both critical and non-critical operations with a guaranteed service level agreement (SLA).
Lee Ahlstrom, Vice President of Viasat Energy Services, said: “This collaboration with SES demonstrates how satellites can enhance offshore energy operations. By enabling the latest technologies through high-speed satellite connectivity, we can empower our customers to gather and analyse critical data about their operations and make important data-driven decisions that optimise how they work.”
Viasat Energy Services has been an early adopter of MEO satellite solutions, successfully integrating O3b services across its global operations, particularly in offshore locations in Brazil and Africa. In preparation for O3b mPOWER, the company proactively installed a sophisticated MEO and GEO system onboard the FPSO from the outset.
Nadine Allen, Global Head of Enterprise and Cloud at SES, added: “Our O3b mPOWER solutions offer an excellent combination of reach, performance, flexibility and resilience that is well-suited to serve the needs of offshore energy and maritime organisations. This project with Viasat Energy Services continues the momentum for O3b mPOWER deployments across a wide range of geographies, industries and organisations that are looking to utilise MEO-based satellite technology to drive their digital transformations.”
