Press release -
Record-breaking 580 Mbps throughput on Sealink VSAT for MSC Seaside’s maiden voyage
Marlink provides temporary VSAT boost with 280Mbps more throughput than existing cruise ship bandwidth record
Oslo / Paris, 12 December 2017: Marlink has provided more than half a gigabit per second of throughput on its global Sealink VSAT network for MSC Cruises’ stunning new Seaside class cruise ship, at its service launch ceremony in Monfalcone, Italy on 30 November 2017. MSC Seaside will officially be named at a naming ceremony in Miami, Florida, USA on 21st December 2017, where Marlink is scheduled to provide similar throughputs that will also apply for its maiden voyage.
MSC Seaside is the 14th addition to the Swiss-based Company’s state-of-the-art fleet and the second new MSC Cruises ship to come into service this year, the first being MSC Meraviglia, which enjoyed a then record-breaking 300 Mbps service for its maiden voyage in July. Marlink provides connectivity for MSC Cruises’ entire fleet in an optimised, dedicated ‘cloud of bandwidth’, providing the highest availability and redundancy available today on its continuously expanding Sealink network made up of 25 satellites and 32 overlapping beams.
From its home port of Miami, MSC Seaside will deliver luxurious Caribbean itineraries all year round. Guests can expect a truly connected cruise experience on board, through the ‘MSC for Me’ digital innovation program that uses the latest cutting-edge technology to connect holidaymakers seamlessly with the experiences that matter to them, whether at sea or on land. Marlink’s VSAT services are a key enabler, ensuring that guests enjoy fast and reliable access to Social Media platforms where they can share their experiences with friends and family at home.
The record-breaking throughput for MSC Seaside will be enabled by Marlink on Intelsat’s new EpicNG High Throughput Satellites, which provides extensive coverage throughout the planned sailing area, in combination with the latest modem technology. The temporary throughput will meet extra demand from media and guests to connect to the Internet on board as MSC Cruises’ newest and innovative cruise ship heads to the Caribbean for the first time. On completion of the maiden voyage, MSC Seaside will continue to experience market leading high throughput on the Sealink network, ensuring widely available connectivity for all guests.
“Working closely with our partners we achieved milestone throughput earlier this year for the MSC Meraviglia maiden voyage, but reflecting the potential in our Sealink VSAT services, we have been able to almost double the previous record for the introduction of MSC Seaside,” said Tore Morten Olsen, President Maritime, Marlink. “While these record breaking figures show what is possible with cutting-edge satellite technology, it’s important to remember that our network continuously delivers the highest throughput services for cruise ships on a daily basis. The cruise industry will soon expect throughput in gigabits and not megabits which is why we are pushing the borders of what the current technology can offer our cruise customers.”
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Knut Natvig, Marlink
T: +47 48 030 911
E: knut.natvig@marlink.com
About the Marlink Group
Through its ownership of Marlink, Telemar and Palantir, Apax Partners has created a new powerful Group dedicated to providing maritime and enterprise customers with an integrated offering of reliable broadband communications, digital solutions, bridge electronics and flexible service & maintenance.
Combining the power of these expert organisations, the Marlink Group delivers complete connectivity and IT solutions to maritime and enterprise companies globally. It provides an unrivalled portfolio of multi-band communication solutions covering Ku-, Ka-, C- and L-band services extended with mobile and terrestrial links and an industry-unique range of digital solutions. Telemar, as part of the Group, is a recognised supplier for bridge electronics and on-board maintenance services. The Group is completed by Palantir, which specialises in remote IT management solutions and IT services on board.
The expertise of the Marlink Group, combined with its strong satellite network operator and manufacturer partnerships as well as IT network expertise, enables it to bring the power of broadband communications, bridge and electronics technology and service excellence to customers globally, providing tailored connectivity solutions that enable both maritime and enterprise customers globally to digitalise their operations at sea and on land.
Today the Marlink Group has more than 800 employees worldwide and provides customers with unrivalled service and support through an enhanced global footprint and worldwide sales and service locations. A global 24/7 helpdesk, specialised competence centres, local presence on all continents and a network of 1250 service points and partners staffed by highly qualified, certified service engineers, supports global customers to operate their business in an ever smarter, safer and more profitable way. The Group is led by Erik Ceuppens as CEO.
About MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises is the world’s largest privately owned cruise company and the number one cruise line in Europe and South America. The Company sails year-round in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean and offers seasonal itineraries in northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, Cuba and the French Antilles, South America, southern Africa, and Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sir Bani Yas. The MSC Cruises’ experience embodies the elegant side of the Mediterranean to create unique and unforgettable emotions for guests, through discovery of the world’s cultures, beauties and tastes.
Following a more than EUR 5.7 billion investment endeavor between 2003 and 2013 for the construction of 12 modern cruise ships, MSC Cruises launched in 2014 an industry-unprecedented nearly 10 billion USD investment plan to build another 11 next-generation mega cruise ships, coming into service between 2017 and 2026. In 2017, MSC Cruises announced an increase to that investment to 10.5 billion EUR, bringing the total to 12 new ships to be delivered between 2017 and 2026. The Company is set to nearly triple its capacity by 2026. MSC Cruises vacations are sold across the globe through a significant distribution network in 67 countries. The Company employs over 17,000 people across the globe, both ashore and on board its ships. The MSC Cruises fleet comprises 14 modern ships: MSC Seaside; MSC Meraviglia; MSC Preziosa; MSC Divina; MSC Splendida; MSC Fantasia; MSC Magnifica; MSC Poesia; MSC Orchestra; MSC Musica; MSC Sinfonia; MSC Armonia; MSC Opera and MSC Lirica.
MSC Cruises feels a deep responsibility for the environments in which it operates and was the first company ever to earn the Bureau Veritas "7 Golden Pearls" for superior management and environmental stewardship. In 2009, MSC Cruises began an enduring partnership with UNICEF to support various programs assisting children worldwide. So far, more than $7.5 million has been collected in voluntary guest donations.
