FleetBroadband

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FleetBroadband is a maritime satellite internet, telephony, SMS texting and ISDN network for ocean-going vessels using portable domed terminal antennas.

These antennas, and corresponding indoor controllers, are used to connect phones and laptop computers from sailing vessels with the rest of the world. All FleetBroadband antennas require line-of-sight to one of three geosynchronous orbit satellites thus allowing the terminal to be used anywhere, including on land.

Details[]

The FleetBroadband network was developed by Inmarsat and is composed of three geosynchronous orbiting satellites called I-4s that allow contiguous global coverage, except for the poles.^[1] FleetBroadband systems installed on vessels may travel from ocean to ocean without human interaction. If there is line-of sight to one of the three I-4 satellites, then connectivity can be achieved, even in rough rolling seas. Since the FleetBroadband network uses the L band, rain fade is much less of an issue than the larger VSAT K_u band or C Band systems.

The FleetBroadband service was modeled after terrestrial Internet services where IP (Internet Protocol)-based traffic dominated over ISDN and other earlier communication protocols. In the long-term, IP traffic is becoming more and more dominant as is being standardized for data, and voice and text communication.

Terminals[]

There are three terminal antenna types available. The small FB150 antenna (commercially launched 2009) (291 × 275 mm) capable of 150 kbit/s, to the mid-sized FB250 antenna (329 × 276 mm) capable of 284 kbit/s, to the largest and fastest FB500 antenna (605 × 630 mm) capable of up to 432 kbit/s, both commercially launched 2007. Current manufactures of FleetBroadband systems includes Thrane & Thrane (Sailor Systems), Wideye (Skipper), KVH, and JRC.

See also[]

• SES Broadband for Maritime
• Stratos Global Corporation, makers of AmosConnect

References[]

External links[]

• Inmarsat FleetBroadband website