Viasat Inc. - Experts & Thought Leaders

Inmarsat Maritime, a ViaSat company, has unveiled the next phase in the evolution of its NexusWave bonded connectivity service, following the successful launch of the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 satellite and in anticipation of the launch of the ViaSat-3 Flight 3 satellite. As the two ViaSat-3 satellites are scheduled to enter service in 2026, NexusWave customers will benefit from a dramatic increase in available bandwidth via a new generation of maritime terminal, with additional capacity expected from VS3 Flight 2 over the Americas and VS3 Flight 3 over Asia-Pacific. This means that by investing in NexusWave now, maritime customers can expect a major step forward in performance, more consistent speeds, and even better flexibility to meet their evolving needs. Improved network efficiency NexusWave is Inmarsat’s fully managed, bonded multi-network service combining capacity from GEO Ka-band, LEO, LTE, and L-band networks in a single intelligent connectivity solution. With the introduction of the ultra-high-capacity, high-speed ViaSat-3 satellites, customers will enjoy faster data transfers and improved network efficiency to support digitalisation and crew welfare at scale for a truly ‘office-like’ and ‘home-like’ onboard internet experience. Incorporates multiple layers of protection The new VS60 maritime terminal, engineered by Intellian and powered by Viasat software-defined radio technology, will further strengthen NexusWave architecture and support bandwidth-intensive applications, such as enterprise networking, video streaming, crew welfare, and mission-critical operations. During recent sea trials, the VS60 terminal, purpose-built for the ViaSat-3 era, achieved download speeds exceeding 250 megabits per second. The VS60 terminal also incorporates multiple layers of protection to safeguard sensitive data and ensure operational integrity. In addition, ViaSat-3 satellites feature more than 1,000 steerable spot beams, which are designed to allow bandwidth to be moved dynamically to match demand across global shipping lanes, ports, and offshore locations. New ViaSat-3-ready terminal Gert-Jan Panken, Vice President, Inmarsat Maritime, said: “The combination of NexusWave’s bonded, multi-orbit architecture, and the new ViaSat-3-ready terminal developed with Intellian puts us in a strong position to support the operational priorities of global fleets." "It reinforces our long-term commitment to reliability, security, and customer experience at sea, and enables fleets to scale seamlessly with future capacity as the network expands.” Increasingly complex connectivity landscape Ben Palmer OBE, President, Viasat Commercial, added: “NexusWave was built to deliver consistent performance in an increasingly complex connectivity landscape." "As ViaSat-3 capacity becomes available, we’re taking another big step forward for our customers and partners by bringing more bandwidth, better flexibility, and a forward-thinking upgrade path to ensure connected confidence for the future.”

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has announced that Anglo-Eastern will upgrade Hadley Shipping Group’s fleet to Inmarsat’s fully managed bonded connectivity solution, NexusWave. Hadley Shipping Group is a long-standing Inmarsat Maritime user. Its transition to NexusWave represents a significant step forward in adopting a unified, bonded multi-orbit solution that will deliver enhanced performance, enterprise-grade cybersecurity, and a scalable platform for future operational needs and crew welfare. Anglo-Eastern, a pioneer in technical ship management and a strong advocate of digital innovation at sea, began implementing its multi-orbit connectivity strategy in 2023. Digital transformation Anglo-Eastern reinforces its mission to accelerate digital transformation boost cyber-resilience With NexusWave now being installed across a range of vessels under its management, Anglo-Eastern reinforces its mission to accelerate digital transformation, boost cyber-resilience, and provide seafarers with a reliable, home-like internet. Torbjorn Dimblad, Chief Information Officer, Anglo-Eastern, said: “With NexusWave, we’re able to leverage secure, high-performance connectivity through a truly integrated multi-network approach.” “This solution aligns with our vision of a digitally advanced fleet, and we’re looking forward to the results of the ongoing trials as we continue to roll out NexusWave across our managed vessels.” Unlimited data It supports everything from smart vessel operations to enhanced crew welfare programmes Sunit Das, Director of Operations, Hadley Shipping Group, said: “Unlimited data is a key benefit of Inmarsat’s NexusWave, but our decision to invest goes beyond just bandwidth.” “This upgrade supports our long-term goals for operational efficiency and crew wellbeing. With the built-in cybersecurity and our confidence in Inmarsat’s capabilities, NexusWave enables us to future-proof our fleet as maritime data and connectivity demands evolve.” NexusWave combines high-speed connectivity, resilient bonded networks, and seamless global coverage to meet the growing requirements of modern shipping. Designed for scalability, it supports everything from smart vessel operations to enhanced crew welfare programmes. Connected operations Gert Jan Panken, Global Vice President, Inmarsat Maritime, said, “This collaboration with Anglo-Eastern and Hadley Shipping Group reflects our shared commitment to building smarter, safer, and more connected operations at sea.” “NexusWave is engineered to meet the complex challenges of modern maritime operations, and we’re proud to support our customers as they embrace the future of connectivity.”

The 2024 edition of The Future of Maritime Safety Report from Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, reveals that Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) distress calls decreased by 7.6% in 2023 over the previous year. Despite this decline, the service was still triggered on 788 occasions and remains close to the six-year average of 799 calls per year. This statistic underscores the ongoing challenges in maritime safety and the need for real improvements. Overcoming operational challenges The report suggests that the maritime industry is beginning to overcome some operational challenges linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as limited inspections and disrupted maintenance schedules. However, with the emergence of potential new safety risks associated with future fuels particularly in the context of the industry's transition to more sustainable practices - and escalating geopolitical tensions, the industry must intensify its efforts to mitigate preventable safety issues. Call to action for maritime The report goes on to suggest that any concerns regarding data pooling related to confidentiality The Future of Maritime Safety report not only provides a snapshot of current safety metrics but also serves as a call to action for the maritime industry to embrace data sharing and collaborative problem-solving as the industry strives to navigate through significant changes, including the transition to greener propulsion technologies. The report goes on to suggest that any concerns regarding data pooling related to confidentiality or reputational damage could be addressed by anonymising casualty and incident data. Report recommendations It recommends that the shipping industry establishes a list of standard data points to monitor and report, including casualties and incidents, injuries or deaths at sea, and near misses. It also endorses trend analysis to support the development of safety measures, with a particular emphasis on developing risk treatments for well-known and recurring issues. Modern technology Peter Broadhurst, Senior Vice President of Safety and Regulatory, at Inmarsat Maritime, said, “By harnessing the power of anonymised safety data, we can identify trends, develop specific mitigation measures, and enhance the overall safety of our ships and crews." He also highlighted the critical role of technology in supporting these efforts, noting that "modern technology offers unprecedented opportunities to improve safety through better data analysis and sharing." Leveraging actionable insights “Although progress has been made, shipping continues to experience significant casualty rates,” commented Broadhurst. “We collect vast amounts of safety data, yet the current siloed-working model hinders our ability to fully leverage the actionable insights available to us."  Holistic and objective maritime view "By pooling data, we can create a more holistic and objective view of maritime safety to inform performance improvements and ultimately reduce preventable safety incidents to save lives at sea.” Inmarsat invites maritime professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders to read the full report to understand the dynamics of maritime safety better and to join in the collective effort to safeguard our seas.