Speedcast delivers new connectivity solution to international cruise line

Speedcast has implemented a specialised connectivity solution delivering data rates for an international cruise line’s newest vessel. The satellite-to-ship tracking solution was deployed for the ship, which runs on liquified natural gas and can accommodate 6,500 passengers.

The cruise line’s new connectivity service was launched as part of the vessel’s inaugural 14-day transatlantic crossing, and now plays an integral role in the success of the vessel’s year-round service. Speedcast is delivering dedicated capacity, which is a CIR-based (committed information rate) service versus a ‘best effort’ solution. The capacity is available at all times throughout the itinerary.

Supporting the ship’s onboard network is Speedcast’s TrueBeam technology, a software-driven platform that maintains the quality of service across satellite beams with automated, smart beam-switching and traffic-steering based on location, footprint contours and committed information rates.

The dual Ka-band antenna solution provides non-metered bandwidth throughout the full itinerary of the ship for the next two years, with the ability to burst to 1.8 Gbps on demand.

The patented TrueBeam technology is part of Speedcast’s advanced network management suite, which also includes the company’s SIGMA network management platform, enterprise-level SD-WAN service, and Cybersecurity as a service.

Brent Horwitz, Senior Vice President, Cruise at Speedcast, said: “Since the cruise industry began its return to sea, demand for bandwidth has accelerated beyond all expectations to meet the needs of passengers. This unique technical solution, in which the satellite coverage follows the ship across its itinerary, ensures that the ship always remains in the centre of the beam, delivering maximum bandwidth levels consistently. We’re proud to bring this industry-first level of bandwidth to our customer’s latest ship and to implement it on short notice to support their growth requirements.”