Inmarsat, a specialist in global, mobile satellite communications, has said maritime digitalisation is accelerating after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a major spike in data demand for crew connectivity.
The company spoke after completed its 10,000th Fleet Xpress ship installation and launched its Fleet Data Academy with existing partners, shipowners and operators to adopt the rapidly growing range of digital applications in the maritime industry.
Ronald Spithout, President, Inmarsat Maritime, said, “Covid-19 has brought a major spike in data demand for crew connectivity and our Fleet Hotspot wi-fi solution has gained exceptional traction, but the arrival of Fleet Data as maritime’s first secure and scalable Internet of Things platform has also been pivotal.
“Maritime digitalisation is now unstoppable. The market is becoming mature enough to support its own digital ecosystem with separate bandwidth channels for crew, applications and operations.
“Our recent experience in offering Fleet Data as integral to Fleet Xpress at no additional cost suggests that, once owners get a taste of what is on offer, they quickly recognise its value and the benefits of using our ecosystem of partners.
“In the coming months we will continue this in partnership with our wholesale and retail partners.”
The company also said its Fleet Xpress clients now include the world’s leading container ship and tanker owners, such as MOL, K-Line and Hapag-Lloyd, offshore support giants like Bourbon, Tidewater and Maersk Supply, as well as growing numbers of yachts, passenger ships and fishing boats.
Strong customer growth has seen Inmarsat report average daily download rates per vessel of around 8GB as of December 2020. This compares to less than 4 GB at the mid-year point of 2020.
“The Fleet Xpress service continues to provide shipping’s gold standard for seamless, mobile broadband,” Spithout said.
“We are now entering a ‘Fleet Xpress 2.0’ era as it moves way beyond a connectivity pipe, and becomes a true digital platform with our Fleet Data service now integrated as part of Fleet Xpress with the basic level of Fleet Data free of charge.
“This allows access to an ecosystem of applications and value-added services available on demand.
“With 10,000 vessels worldwide now depending on Fleet Xpress 24/7, this is a moment to express our thanks to our end-users and our technology, installation, manufacturing and channel partners, and to reflect on 2020 as the tipping point for maritime digitalisation.
“That is why we have launched our new ‘Fleet Data Academy’ in order to work together with partners and end-users to realise the full benefits of digitalisation.”
