Inmarsat Maritime has entered an agreement with Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) to facilitate the transition of MOL’s fleet from the Fleet Xpress (FX) service to Inmarsat’s NexusWave.
This upgrade aims to enhance the digitalisation efforts of the Japanese shipping company by providing a fully managed bonded connectivity service across its vessels.
The implementation and support for this transition will be managed by local Inmarsat partner JSAT MOBILE Communications, which will oversee a diverse fleet that includes liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, oil tankers, and car carriers.
MOL is adapting to changing operational requirements and crew connectivity demands by seeking comprehensive satellite communication solutions.
The NexusWave service combines multiple network underlays into a single bonded connection, offering high speeds, reliability, unlimited data, and global coverage.
It includes enterprise-grade cybersecurity, continuous technical support, and transparent pricing structures.
MOL chief digital and information officer Junichi Yoshiyama said: “Our digitalised and connected ships are becoming floating operations centres and homes for our crew, and Inmarsat’s NexusWave will help keep them connected to high-speed internet and support our onboard digitalisation strategy.”
Recent tests of the NexusWave service have demonstrated download speeds reaching 330-340Mbps and upload speeds between 70-80Mbps, with network availability reported at over 99.9%.
Inmarsat is committed to enhancing its services, with plans to integrate the next-generation ultra-high capacity, high-speed ViaSat-3 Ka-band network, which is expected to further boost connectivity speeds for NexusWave.
Inmarsat Maritime president Ben Palmer said: “We are proud to continue our partnership with MOL and to deliver NexusWave as an accelerator of maritime digitalisation and, by extension, an enabler of the floating office and floating home.
“Forward-thinking operators like MOL are drawn to the solution for its performance, robust capabilities, and the confidence that comes from working with a reliable maritime connectivity partner.”
In February this year, Maersk partnered with Inmarsat Maritime to improve satellite communications for its fleet, enhancing connectivity for around 340 container ships globally between 2025 and 2026.