Eutelsat secures extra Marlink maritime business
October 10, 2023
By Chris Forrester
Eutelsat’s new 10B satellite has been chosen by Marlink for a multi-year service for shipping in the EMEA region.
The multi-million commitment is for GEO High Throughput Ku-band capacity on its Eutelsat 10B satellite, covering Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as critical maritime routes. This new agreement comes in addition to existing partnerships previously signed between Marlink and Eutelsat Group for maritime connectivity across the globe.
The agreement provides Marlink with targeted, dense and flexible bandwidth over the vast sailing areas and offshore locations covered by Eutelsat 10B satellite. In service since July 2023 at the 10°East orbital position, the satellite carries two multi-spotbeam High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) Ku-band payloads: a payload covering the North Atlantic corridor, Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and the Middle East, offering significant throughput in the busiest air and sea traffic zones, and a second payload extending coverage over the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, and the Indian Ocean.
Marlink is an independent provider of hybrid networks and digital solutions, with a global hybrid connectivity network and market access across all maritime segments (shipping, offshore, cruise/ferry, yachting and fishing). In partnership with Eutelsat Group, Marlink says it will “increase the capacity and coverage of its maritime hybrid network offering customers with truly differentiated, high quality, reliable, and secure connectivity solutions worldwide.”
This agreement also provides Marlink with access to Eutelsat Group’s ground infrastructure.
Eutelsat added that maritime broadband connectivity is booming across all market segments, driven by the increasing number of connected vessels and the surge in usage from remote access to corporate applications, operational data and crew welfare. This agreement unlocks evermore connectivity opportunities and solutions for clients at sea throughout the vast EMEA region.
Erik Ceuppens, CEO of Marlink Group, commented: “Marlink is delighted to add Eutelsat 10B capacity and capabilities to our best-in-class global maritime network. This agreement signals our continued commitment to providing guaranteed bandwidth services to customers with mission-critical operations across all maritime industry segments. We look forward to further intensifying and strengthening our long-standing partnership with Eutelsat Group.”
Cyril Dujardin, Eutelsat Group Co-General Manager of the Connectivity Business Unit, added: “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Marlink, which confirms Eutelsat as one of the most trusted satellite network operators for maritime connectivity. Eutelsat 10B is a powerful new satellite which opens up mobile connectivity solutions for Marlink in even more seas and oceans of the globe. We look forward to continuing to support Marlink as it continues to roll out its state-of-the-art service to seafarers in all segments of the maritime industry”.