Page 63: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2000)

Satellite

Communications

MTN, BT Hook-Up

Cruise Ships

To Cell Phone Network

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ANCHORS

CHAINS ^ORTELBOER

In a move which perhaps heralds the next plateau in at-sea communications. Maritime Telecommuni- cations Network (MTN) in Miami announced an innovative partnership in which its satellite commu- nications network will be used for a new service developed and patented by BT A&M, BT's satellite communications division. Cruise Connect, as the new service will be dubbed, will enable passengers and staff on cruise ships to make and receive calls from cell phones at sea. "MTN is excited to bring the extended conve- nience of connecting cellular networks with vessels served by MTN's global C-band network," said

Bradford Briggs. MTN's senior vice president and general manager.

MTN is a leader in maritime communications, providing C-Band, voice, fax, data and internet com- munications to the cruise industry, the U.S. Navy, and to offshore oil and gas platforms around the world. MTN also provides ship-to-shore live video

Stratos Awarded $48M Contract

Stratos has received a long-term (42- month) U.S. Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) contract valued at $48 million for the provision of Inmarsat -B 64Kbps (High Speed Data) lease services to the

U.S. Navy's battlegroups. The contract is inclusive of the battlegroups' associated amphibious readiness groups, as well as other U.S. Navy ships supporting world- wide U.S. interests.

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NASSCO Wins$230M Contract

National Steel and Shipbuilding Compa- ny (NASSCO), was granted a $230 million contract to build its eighth large, medium- speed RoRo vessel per the U.S. Navy's

Strategic Sealift Program. The contract wraps-up the 20-vessel LMSR Program that NASSCO has shared with other U.S. shipbuilders. The company now has con- tracts for 11 vessels, three conversions and eight new constructions. and radio broadcast capabilities in C-or Ku-Band.

The company — a subsidiary of ATC Teleports Inc. of Fairfax, Va. — is on a strong growth pattern and has recently signed a five year lease on a 23,763-sq.- ft. building to expand its operations.

Cruise Connect functions via the installation of discrete, mini cellular stations installed on the ves- sels. These stations are linked, via the MTN satel- lite communications network, to a mobile switching center within the land based cellular network. The system should prove desirable in many instances, as it allows the user to utilize their cell phones — to both make and receive calls to their normal number — as well as to receive billing via their regular state- ment. It also will provide a valuable service, as the regular shipboard phones are disconnected the night before docking back at the homeport, so that billing can be reconciled by the morning disembarkation.

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Tel.: +31 (0)10 429 2222

Fax: +31 (0)10 429 6459 [email protected] www.wortelboer.nl (See page 68 for more SatCom News)

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GPC Awarded Contract

GPC was granted a multi-year contract by the MMS for Support of Scheduled

Annual Maintenance, Spare Parts and Post

Deployment Inspection, Repair and Refur- bishment of Oil Spill Response Equip- ment. GPC is scheduled to maintain pre- positioned pollution response equipment inventory, such as oil boom, skimmers, pumps, barges and ancillary equipment.

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