Maritime Connectivity

VSAT technology is the new de facto standard for maritime connectivity. Industry-analyst COMSYS reported strong growth for VSAT service as the total number of vessels in service rose by 55 percent between 2007 and 2009. This strong growth shows the value that high-speed, always-on connectivity offers to maritime companies around the globe. E-mail, Internet, VPN and VoIP applications help vessel operators retain skilled maritime talent; increase and improve interactions between operations at sea and management on shore; and realize cost savings that come with tighter operations and faster, more efficient information exchange.

Solution Overview
iDirect is the market leader in maritime VSAT connectivity solutions and the most broadly deployed technology across the growing ranks of broadband-enabled vessels. According to COMSYS, 47 percent of all VSAT routers installed on vessels today are made by iDirect.

iDirect’s innovations in IP broadband provide a cost-effective, scalable solution with always-on connectivity. The flexibility of the iDirect system allows a maritime service provider to start small, with minimum investment, and scale networks as business grows.

From regional services to global Ku- or C-band networks, iDirect technology maximizes capacity while it enables maritime providers to guarantee service levels that meet any customer demand. Twelve of the top 15 maritime service providers leverage iDirect technology to develop networks to support customer requirements.

iDirect Intelligent Platform™
The iDirect Intelligent Platform significantly reduces satellite bandwidth by dynamically allocating capacity to multiple maritime vessels based on a shared bandwidth pool, providing a more efficient and cost-effective solution. The platform includes a number of key features that enable service providers to offer a flexible, reliable service for customers:

• Group Quality of Service (GQoS) – Segment bandwidth across multiple ships, across fleets, or even prioritize allocation by each vessel’s requirements and applications
• Automatic Beam Selection - Vessel’s can travel across satellite footprints and maintain seamless connectivity with no need for manual interview by the crew
• Global Network Management System - Enables a service provider to manage each vessel’s router, ensuring a consistent connection as it passes through networks around the globe