Page 68: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2018)

KVH & Intelsat

On the Digitization Fast Track

While the ship owners and ship managers historically have eschewed the push to increase connectivity at sea, the path to ef? ciency in the digital age is paved with a robust, high speed and affordable connec- tion. KVH and Intelsat are cooperating to provide all that and more.

BY GREG TRAUTHWEIN

According to the Crew Connectiv- ity,” said Elizabeth Jackson, Chief Mar- monthly fee, with no commitment; in- In the year since AgilePlans launched, ity 2018 Survey Report, based on a keting Of? cer and SVP Strategy, KVH, stallation at select ports and global tech it accounts for almost two-thirds of survey of 6,000 serving seafarers and during a recent interview in Athens. support are also included, as well as KVH’s commercial shipments, Jack- sponsored by KVH Industries and In- “It’s data transfer, it’s data analytics, NEWSlinkTM TV and NEWSlink Print son said. “It has been successful, and to telsat, approximately 75% of seafarers it’s value added services, it’s content news, sports, and entertainment content date we have not had one return.” can now use the internet at sea, a 32% delivery. With the partnership with In- delivered via KVH’s IP-MobileCast jump in three years. Long gone are the telsat and the launch of our new HTS content delivery service. KVH & Intelsat days when entertainment at sea consists product at the end of last year we’re “(AgilePlans) is unique in the market While KVH prides itself on product of a ‘library’ of 20-year-old magazines, leading the way in this ‘dual channel’ because we manufacture the antennas, and service, it knows that it is only as books and movies. Attracting and re- offering … they (vessel owners) pay for we manage the installation and the ser- good as the pipeline on which it oper- taining quali? ed crew, an industry-wide one channel, they get the other channel vice,” said Jackson. “It has gotten rid ates. In the autumn of 2017 KVH In- challenge, means delivering onshore for free,” allowing owners and opera- of a barrier of buying expensive equip- dustries announced the launch of its quality amenities, as the survey also tors to separate data for operations ver- ment up front.” next-generation, advanced maritime found that 92% of seafarers reported sus crew amenities, providing ? exibil- According to Mark Woodhead, broadband network, joined by service that internet access strongly in? uences ity and choice. KVH’s SVP Europe, there is one more partner, Intelsat. their decision on where to work. A recent adopter is Nordic Hamburg, attractive aspect to the plan, particularly KVH’s high-speed overlay to its cur-

While crew amenities are important, which in mid-June chose KVH’s new from the perspective of a ship manager. rent mini-VSAT Broadband service it is really only half of the digitization TracPhone V7-HTS antenna equip- “Ship managers can lose their vessels was expected to triple, and in some cas- story sweeping through maritime today. ment and the AgilePlans subscription- within three months, yet here we were es increase by a multiple of six, the data “KVH is leading the way in connec- based Connectivity as a Service (CaaS) asking them to sign 3-4 year contracts. speeds for its maritime customers, and tivity, but it’s beyond connectivity in program to bring connectivity to 25 of We are con? dent in our product and at the core of its capabilities, KVH’s itself, it’s what the commercial marine its vessels. The AgilePlans program systems, so instead of asking the cus- advanced maritime broadband network industry is doing with that connectiv- provides equipment and airtime for a tomer to take the risk, we took the risk.” will incorporate Intelsat Epic satellite

Image: KVH 68 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • AUGUST 2018

MR #8 (66-73).indd 68 MR #8 (66-73).indd 68 8/6/2018 12:04:33 PM8/6/2018 12:04:33 PM