[By: Inmarsat Maritime]
Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has recently announced a significant agreement with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) to upgrade its fleet from Fleet Xpress (FX) service to Inmarsat’s NexusWave. This strategic move will enable MOL to enhance its digitalization strategy and benefit from Inmarsat’s fully managed bonded connectivity service. The implementation and support for these upgrades will be carried out by local Inmarsat partner JSAT MOBILE Communications, covering a diverse fleet that includes LNG carriers, oil tankers, and car carriers.
MOL, a prominent Japanese shipping company, is aligning its operational and crew connectivity requirements with the transition to NexusWave. By leveraging Inmarsat’s innovative solution, MOL aims to transform its vessels into efficient floating offices and homes. NexusWave provides a multi-layered satellite communications service that combines multiple network underlays in a bonded connection. This results in high speeds, reliability, unlimited data, and global coverage, supported by enterprise-grade cyber-security and round-the-clock technical assistance.
Junichi Yoshiyama, Chief Digital & Information Officer at Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “Our digitalized and connected ships are evolving into floating operations centers and homes for our crew, and Inmarsat’s NexusWave will ensure they remain connected to high-speed internet, supporting our onboard digitalization strategy.”
Ben Palmer, President of Inmarsat Maritime, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, saying, “We are delighted to continue our collaboration with MOL and introduce NexusWave as a catalyst for maritime digitalization. Forward-thinking operators like MOL are attracted to the solution for its performance, robust capabilities, and the assurance of working with a reliable maritime connectivity partner.”
Katsuaki Koike, CEO of JSAT MOBILE Communications, added, “MOL, JSAT, and Inmarsat have a longstanding partnership, and this collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge connectivity solutions. We are dedicated to supporting MOL’s digital transformation journey and ensuring seamless and reliable installations across their vessels.”
Recent real-world tests have demonstrated NexusWave’s capabilities, achieving impressive download speeds of up to 330–340 Mbps, upload speeds of up to 70–80 Mbps, and an average network availability exceeding 99.9%. In line with Inmarsat’s commitment to continuous improvement, the integration of the next-generation ultra-high capacity, high-speed ViaSat-3 Ka-band network is expected to further enhance NexusWave’s aggregated connectivity speeds.
The products and services mentioned in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.