ONBOARD Magazine summer 2019

Within the next decade, experts predict the earth will be covered
by small satellites at low heights working directly above, not within
range of the human eye, of course, that would be ridiculous, but
capable of providing vastly improved mobile coverage and faster
connectivity akin to the home experience.
As the name suggests, Low Orbit Satellites orbit the earth as
low as a few hundred kilometres high and, although the concept is
not actually new, in terms of numbers, the LEO satellite market
can shortly expect to receive a greatly increased number and
large constellations in the thousands of these relatively small,
relatively low-cost satellites, that can be upgraded, swapped
out and changed far quicker than their larger, more costly GEO
satellite (Geostationary Earth Orbit) counterparts.
‘Traditional’ GEO satellites, with their large data-carrying
payloads, are satellites located at 36,000km height and remain in
a stationary position relevant to the earth and follow the earth’s
own rotational course. LEO satellites (and to an even lesser
extent, MEO - Middle Earth Orbit satellites), on the other hand,
are not held in fixed earth positions, and they can be deployed
to different locations, but need physically many more of them
to give true global coverage.
Broadly speaking, the two different satellite types are
complementary, and consumers derive the best combined service
when both types are deployed and working together. To receive
higher-capacity, higher-speed connectivity, yachts may need to
review their existing antennas, thus ensuring they can receive
and transmit this lovely additional data set to come our way.
I intentionally use the word ‘review’ here (as opposed to using the
word ‘replace’) because chances are replacement of a ‘full-fat’
Dome antenna may not be required, but for any other reason
than the more attractive, low-profile appearance of flat-panel
antenna terminals, which, from an aesthetic point of view, most
of us would probably prefer.
One thing that stood out with companies I talked to, is the
provision of flexible, demand-based data that enables service
providers to point additional bandwidth to yachts during busy
periods. The process is quick if the yacht is known to the provider
and vice-versa.
Operating from eight strategic sites in the UK, Ships Electronics
Services Ltd (SES) has years of experience working within global
leisure and commercial marine industries, including military,
and is a dealer and distributor for some of communications’
biggest names.
SES Leisure Manager, Paul Rees, told me, “Flexibility is key to
providing what’s required. We work with large airtime providers
that offer an opportunity to upgrade or downgrade bandwidth
requirements on a monthly basis. “We can offer data plans that
are not subject to capped tariffs and other usage restrictions,
in this sector you will most likely be limited by either what your
hardware can handle, or airtime cost.”
Real time data wireless & satellite communications company,
Excelerate, CEO, David Savage, told me, “Yacht clients generally
want full internet requirements, including consistency of speed
YACHTPROJECTS INTERNATIONAL
Yachtprojects International supply hardware, software
and airtime for the following services. VSAT, both Ku,
Ka, C band and GX. Fleet broad band, Iridium and
GMDSS , in-house supported VOIP phones and 4G.
They also supply TVRO and service globally and are
a one stop shop for the above and compliment this
with bespoke onboard networks including firewalls,
managed LAN and managed WiFi, both for open
and revenue stream applications. Their managed
networks are Ðsupported remotely 24/7/ 365.
Recently Yachtprojects International have released
their ‘Ethernet over power system’ Ðfor minor or quick
deployment networks where 350Mbps suffice.Ð
For more details Tel:+44 (0)740 880 2485
or visit yachtprojects.net
132 | SUMMER 2019 | ONBOARD