Strategic Growth and More to Come: SatComs in the Maritime Space

These events, which follow a series of eight previous communications conferences for the offshore oil & gas sector, and two previous conferences for the communications environment of the maritime industry, reflect the Global VSAT Forum’s recognition of this increasing strategic importance to the satellite industry of the entire offshore and maritime sector. Indeed, GVF is currently extending its long-standing activity and collaboration in this space by continuing to build not only on conferences and other promotions efforts, but also on a further two facets of its three-fold focus of: Promotions, Advocacy, and Training.

These efforts have been recognised and lauded. As a result of the participation, in either speaking or delegate capacities, of the following organisations at the 2010 GVF Broadband Maritime Conference, ‘New Communications Networking for Offshore & the High Seas’, in Singapore (alphabetical order): Anglo Eastern Ship Management - APL (Neptune Orient) - B&H Equimar - CGP Solutions – CSIT - EMS Ship Management - Executive Ship Management - Fr8 - Gardline Shipping Australia - Germadept (S) Pte. Ltd - Gilat Satellite Networks - Hallin Marine - Hong Lam Marine - Horizon Mobile Communications - Hughes Network Systems - IM Skaugen Marine Services – Inmarsat - Intellian Technologies Inc – Intelsat - JR Orion Services Pte. Ltd - KT Corp - Marine Technologies LLC - Mari-Time Solutions (S) Pte. Ltd - MTM Ship Management - MTN Satellite Communications – Norgas - Northern Sky Research - Pacmar Shipping - POSH Fleet Services - POSH Maritime Pte. Ltd - Remas2/C-Comm – Schlumberger - Singapore Maritime Academy - SingTel Satellite - Speedcast, Thome Group - Thrane & Thrane - TORM Shipping Singapore - United Ocean Ship Management - V-Ships Singapore – GVF has been encouraged by both users and vendors to introduce the Broadband Maritime Conference Series to Europe, as was noted above.

But, beyond promotions, Advocacy and Training are also vitally important facets of our work in the offshore and maritime arenas.

Advocacy

In fact, GVF advocacy for the maritime VSAT industry has continued for more than a decade. Indeed, the successful defence of C-band satellite spectrum – a valuable maritime communications resource – at the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference in 2007 was recognised in the form of an “Industry Innovator” award given to GVF by the Society of Satellite Professionals International.

Further examples of GVF advocacy work for the maritime market included action related to an ITU Resolution pertaining to "Earth Stations on Vessels" (ESVs). The initial interpretation of the ITU Resolution made by OFCOM, the UK regulator did not favour satellite, and GVF was first to set in motion a regulatory initiative that ultimately reached all of Europe and the Americas, resulting in a far more favourable interpretation and implementation of the licensing regime.

In addition,October 2009 saw publication of the ‘Two-Way Satellite Market Survey’ a European Space Agency-funded report to which GVF contributed the major research effort with the satellite industry. The Report provided a detailed analysis of the maritime market User Segment, a profile of current satellite industry Services and Products, and an examination of the various features/benefits of Maritime Networks. Amongst its conclusions, the Report identified the most important and sensitive parameters in the delivery of satellite-based services to the maritime market. The Report featured in a GVF-organised meeting during the Satellite 2010 event in Maryland, USA, recently. Most recently, GVF has begun planning an advocacy effort in India, where the government has strong prohibitions against maritime and aeronautical satcom. In March this year, the GVF Secretary General was in New Delhi attending to this issue, in coordination with the GVF local affiliate, the VSAT Services Association of India (VSAI).

Training

GVF runs the VSAT industry’s global VSAT Certification Programme, winner of the STARs ‘Best Skills Developer Award’ at Satcom Africa 2009, and recently cited in the SSPI’s Industry Innovator awards ceremony. Integral to the GVF VSAT installation training curriculum is a focus on the deployment of systems used in the martime environment. For example, GVF has developed and have been delivering a Schlumberger Spacetrack 4000 installation course for their stablized platform. Likewise, GVF has a similar agreement with Cobham to develop Seatel courses. Planning is underway for a course tailored for those who install VSATs in the yachting market. Maritime interests who have embraced the GVF training include KVH, CapRock, Broadpoint, Schlumberger, Seatel, iDirect, Viasat, Gilat, Hughes, and 18 of the world’s largest satellite operators.

These efforts will continue, grow, and evolve. So please keep watching the offshore and maritime space – part of which is, by the way, 36,000km above the equator!

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   Martin Jarrold is Chief of International Program Development of the industry association, GVF. He can be reached at martin.jarrold@gvf.org