Inmarsat Global Limited - Experts & Thought Leaders

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has verified its fully managed bonded connectivity service, NexusWave, achieved maximum download speeds of 330–340 megabits per second, with maximum upload speeds of 70–80 Mbps, in real world tests. The trials demonstrated average download and upload speeds of 120–150 Mbps and 20–45 Mbps respectively, with network availability on board NexusWave vessels over 99.99%. Inmarsat Maritime’s NexusWave In addition to unparalleled speeds, the network-bonding plan provides superior reliability and redundancy Unlike the load balancing which hybrid connectivity solutions typically use to deliver bandwidth via the best available underlay network, Inmarsat Maritime’s NexusWave combines multiple underlays in one bonded connection. The solution allows applications to leverage the aggregate capacity of all available networks rather than relying on one network at a time. In addition to unparalleled speeds, the unique network-bonding approach provides superior reliability and redundancy. Maritime connectivity service For instance, in real-life testing, the quality of a video conference remains virtually unaffected by the availability or quality of a single network underlay. Leveraging bonding technology, NexusWave dynamically adjusts traffic routeing to maintain a seamless and uninterrupted experience. “The results of our real-world tests demonstrate, in the clearest of terms, the peerless performance of NexusWave as a fully managed bonded maritime connectivity service,” commented Ben Palmer, President, Inmarsat Maritime. Power of network bonding Palmer added: “The ability to achieve speeds of 340 Mbps derives from the power of network bonding within NexusWave: no individual underlay network within the package can reach these speeds alone." "In NexusWave, Inmarsat’s maritime customers secure a unique value proposition: the capacity of multiple solutions with the convenience of a single provider.” Inmarsat Maritime experts The solution ensures managed performance levels regardless of the vessel’s location or needs Designed to provide ‘connected confidence’, NexusWave also delivers unlimited data, global coverage, and enterprise-grade firewall security, while Inmarsat Maritime experts offer round-the-clock technical support to customers worldwide.  As a unified service, the solution ensures managed performance levels regardless of the vessel’s location or requirements, with full transparency on total cost of ownership. ViaSat-3 Ka-band service In a move intended to further increase aggregated connectivity speeds, the future-proof solution will integrate the next-generation ultra-high capacity, high-speed ViaSat-3 Ka-band service following its entry into service. “Part of what makes NexusWave so compelling is its ability to seamlessly integrate additional technologies and networks as they become available,” added Ben Palmer. “This ensures that the service continuously improves over time, giving customers complete connected confidence amid evolving challenges and requirements.”

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, announced that Toei Reefer Line Ltd, a leading supplier of sashimi-grade tuna, will install NexusWave on board the company’s sophisticated factory vessels to support its evolving crew and business connectivity requirements. Expert Crew, Unmatched Quality To maintain a level of quality consistent with the high expectations of its end customers in the Japanese consumer market. Toei Reefer Line employs specially trained personnel to load and operate its factory vessels, which are equipped to process, prepare, and store high-value cargoes at temperatures as low as -55⁰ C. Prioritising crew welfare, the company strives to ensure its seafarers are well cared for, can access high-speed internet and keep in touch with family and friends while serving at sea, often for extended periods in remote locations. Seamless, Reliable Maritime Connectivity Inmarsat’s NexusWave seamlessly integrates Global Xpress (GX) Ka-band, Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), coastal LTE, and L-band services to deliver reliable high-speed Internet with unlimited data and global coverage. As well as enabling Toei Reefer Line to provide its crews with free, unlimited internet access wherever its ships are sailing, the bonded reliable connectivity solution will allow the company to monitor onboard temperature sensors in real-time, seamlessly access vessel networks from shore, and deploy cloud-based applications for ship management.   Prioritizing Crew & Connectivity Shinobu Iijima, IT Director, Toei Reefer Line Ltd, said: “Crew welfare is our top priority. We employ up to 50 crew per vessel and providing them with unlimited data while they spend many months out at sea away from their loved ones is a priority.” “At the same time, we have experienced a surge in business-related data consumption due to the growing demand for connected applications and real-time monitoring as our vessels increasingly function like floating factories.” Seamless Connectivity at Sea Gert-Jan Panken, Vice President Global Sales, Inmarsat Maritime, said: “Placing great emphasis on quality, Toei Reefer Line has high expectations for onboard connectivity, requiring a solution that supports its sophisticated business operations and crew welfare initiatives alike.” “We are proud that Toei Reefer Line has chosen Inmarsat NexusWave, which – with its speed, reliability, unlimited data, and global coverage – meets the specialised requirements of their most complex vessels and highly trained crews at sea.”

A. P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk), one of the world’s largest containership operators, and Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, have signed an agreement to upgrade Inmarsat satellite communications services across Maersk’s global fleet of approximately 340 container ships. The agreement will see bandwidth enhancements rolled out across Maersk’s entire fleet of owned container ships between 2025 and 2026. Floating office These upgrades are part of Maersk’s strategic roadmap to facilitate unified connectivity and transform its vessels into fully operational floating offices as well as providing crews with improved connectivity. The concept of ‘floating office’ is aimed at revolutionising vessel operations through an advanced digitalisation strategy, expanded cloud-enabled solutions, and a more cohesive operational infrastructure, enabling future advancements in automation-focused operations and potentially autonomous operations as well. Secure connectivity  Inmarsat Maritime’s future-proofed connectivity service combines Ka-band and ultra-resilient L-band networks Inmarsat Maritime’s future-proofed connectivity service combines Ka-band and ultra-resilient L-band networks, providing global, always-on, reliable, and secure connectivity for Maersk’s fleet, essential for transforming vessels into both floating offices and floating homes for seafarers. Karthikeyan Arumugam, Senior Product Manager at Maersk said, “Connectivity is the key enabler in ensuring our vessels can become floating offices, and with our “One SatCom” project we have the target of having transformed all our vessels into floating offices by 2027." Digital transformation "The partnership with Inmarsat Maritime plays an important role in enriching application availability and performance – thereby supporting our digital transformation at sea." "No less important, it also fosters a better working environment and well-being for our crew members - ensuring that our vessels are not only workplaces but also connected homes away from home.” Operational framework Ben Palmer OBE, President, of Inmarsat Maritime said, “Our long-term partnership with Maersk is tailored to meet the evolving demands for maritime connectivity." "Our connectivity solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with Maersk’s operational framework, ensuring a robust, secure, and continuous flow of information between ship and shore. This expanded agreement is a testament to our commitment to enabling strategic outcomes through superior connectivity solutions.” Excellence and innovation The long-term partnership with Inmarsat Maritime reflects Maersk’s ongoing dedication to leading the industry in operational excellence and innovation. By establishing a new benchmark in maritime connectivity, Maersk and Inmarsat Maritime are paving the way for a more interconnected and efficient future in global shipping.

Aiming to establish minimum requirements for the cyber-resilience of newbuild vessels and their connected systems, IACS unified requirements (URs) E26 and E27 provide a new benchmark for shipping’s response to its growing exposure to cyber-attacks. Officially in force from 1 July 2024 and broadly welcomed by industry, the new URs represent another step forward in strengthening Maritime's resilience to the evolving cyber threat. However, according to a thought-provoking discussion recently hosted by Edwin Lampert, Executive Editor of Riviera in partnership with Inmarsat Maritime (a Viasat company), shipping companies must still conduct comprehensive risk assessments and implement appropriate mitigation measures. Vessel’s cyber security They ensure all stakeholders are responsible for the vessel’s cyber security Kostas Grivas, Information Security Officer, Angelicoussis Group told the ‘IACS URs E26 & E27: Bridging the gap between regulation and implementation’ session that the URs bring “obvious benefits” such as eliminating “scattered requirements”. They provide “common and crystal-clear ground for auditing and control purposes”, and establish “a solid description of the minimum technical, procedural, and other criteria that govern a vessel’s cyber resilience,” he said. Finally, they ensure “all stakeholders are responsible for the vessel’s cyber security”. Makiko Tani, Deputy Manager, Cyber Security at classification society ClassNK, also acknowledged that the new requirements will “contribute to the visibility of ever-digitalising shipboard networks and their assets”, however, as there is no one-size-fits all cybersecurity solution to all, she continued, “additional controls beyond those specified in the requirements may be necessary, depending on the vessel’s connectivity”. Digital transformation strategy To properly address the cyber risks that a specific vessel is exposed to, she said, “shipowners must conduct a thorough cyber-risk assessment. This relies on a ‘C-level commitment’ to establishing a cyber-security programme that facilitates compliance with URs E26 and E27 and any other future industry requirements while supporting the organisation’s digital transformation strategy”. The importance of looking beyond the IACS URs was also emphasised by Laurie Eve, Chief of Staff, Inmarsat Maritime, who proposed three key areas where companies should “focus and invest not only to meet new requirements but also to go beyond compliance and build good cyber resilience”. Quality management system and standards The firm should focus on training and grasping, managing user rights, investing in a regime system “The first key area, ‘people and culture’, addresses the notion that people are the weakest link in cyber security. According to a 2023 report from the United States Coast Guard as well as findings from Inmarsat’s security operations centres, phishing is the most common initial access vector in cyber-attacks. Investing in people, therefore, should be an absolute no brainer”, commented Eve. Specifically, he continued, a company should focus on training and awareness, managing user privileges, investing in a quality management system and standards such as ISO 27001, assessing suppliers’ risk-management practices, and embedding cyber-security in the organisation’s continuous improvement culture. Risk-management approach The third and final key area according to Eve is an ‘incident response plan’ (IRP). The second key area is ‘network-connected systems and services’. Given the number of attack surfaces on board a vessel and the ever-growing volumes of data moving between systems, many companies lack the time and resources to address all possible weaknesses. The solution, Eve said, is a risk-management approach in which the organisation assesses the risks, sets its risk appetite, and implements security measures according to the costs it is willing and able to bear. The third and final key area according to Eve is an ‘incident response plan’ (IRP). It’s prudent to assume that at some point there will be failures and a breach, an IRP comprises a robust set of contingencies to keep the cost of business disruption to a minimum. It requires investment in backup and data systems as well as regular staff training. “Having a plan is good; training, rehearsing, and improving the plan is better,” explained Eve. Cyber-security requirements While these recommendations apply to all ship owners, Eve acknowledged that there are differences from small to large operators in terms of the budget and internal capability invested in cyber resilience. “Inmarsat’s Fleet Secure offers a ‘one-stop shop’ for cyber-security requirements which makes it a particularly good fit for “smaller operators without the in-house capability to put together their own solutions”, he said. Inmarsat’s Fleet Secure offers a ‘one-stop shop’ for cyber-security requirements Combining three powerful components – Fleet Secure Endpoint, Fleet Secure Unified Threat Management, and Fleet Secure Cyber Awareness Training – the Fleet Secure portfolio provides the tools and facilitates a risk-management approach, supporting “compliance with the new requirements” and, more broadly, “increasing cyber resilience”, Eve added.