Marine Satellite Communications - Maritime SATCOM

Marine satellite communications involve the transmission of data between sea-based entities and land-based facilities using satellites. Maritime SATCOM is crucial for unmanned and autonomous maritime applications, such as remote-controlled ships and underwater drones. These systems rely on satellite links for real-time navigation, environmental monitoring, and operational commands, ensuring that these vessels can operate efficiently and safely in open waters.
Overview Marine Satellite Communications - Maritime SATCOM
By Mike Ball Last updated: August 27th, 2024

Marine satellite communications provide connectivity for platforms such as USVs (unmanned surface vessels) and ASVs (autonomous surface vessels), as well as surfaced UUVs (unmanned underwater vehicles).

Utilizing a variety of different satellite services, these technologies allow vessels to operate beyond the ranges of RF and cellular communications, and may enable them to be controlled and monitored from almost anywhere in the world.

Maritime Satcom Applications

Maritime satellite communications links are used for a range of applications. They can provide remote piloting and tracking of vessels, and provide up-to-the-minute data to autopilots such as weather and AIS (automatic identification system) information. Transmission of status and telemetry data, such as battery and fuel levels and engine data, can be used to monitor the health of the vessel and its subsystems.

Marine satellite internet and SATCOM can also be used to transmit sensor data back to the vessel’s control center. This may include readings from scientific and environmental USVs, and real-time ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) data from naval platforms.

Other industry sectors are also increasingly utilizing SATCOM-controlled uncrewed vessels, including cargo shipping, oil and gas, and commercial fishing. Maritime SATCOM services may offer a range of different options to suit the data requirements of many different applications, ranging from always-on high-data rate broadband, through to short burst data services that transmit minimal status updates at set time intervals.

Marine Satellite Communications Iridium Certus Products

Marine Satellite Communications Iridium Certus Products

Maritime Satellite Hardware

The hardware powering marine satellite links typically includes a SATCOM terminal, which may incorporate a modem, transceiver and antenna in a complete housed unit. Marine SATCOM terminals are built to withstand water ingress as well as the effects of salt spray. Some systems such as VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) use a separate dish antenna with its own stabilization and satellite tracking mechanisms.

Products (6)

VersaWave SATCOM

UAV SATCOM solution for BVLOS & real-time video streaming

UAV SATCOM solution for BVLOS & real-time video streaming
VersaWave is a satellite communications system designed to meet the unique requirements of small...
Thales VesseLINK 700

Maritime SATCOM solution with global coverage

Maritime SATCOM solution with global coverage
...00 is a rugged maritime SATCOM terminal that provides global satellite coverage for unmanned and...
Cobham SAILOR 4300

Maritime SATCOM terminal for internet and Connected Ship applications

Maritime SATCOM terminal for internet and Connected Ship applications
...ILOR 4300 is a maritime SATCOM terminal that delivers Iridium Certus 700 connectivity to unmanned...
Intellian C700

Broadband SATCOM terminal for maritime IoT

Broadband SATCOM terminal for maritime IoT
...lian C700 is a maritime SATCOM terminal that provides USVs with Iridium Certus 700 connectivity for...
Thales VesseLINK 200

Maritime SATCOM for USVs with Iridium Certus 200 connectivity

Maritime SATCOM for USVs with Iridium Certus 200 connectivity
...00 is a rugged maritime SATCOM terminal that provides Iridium Certus 200 broadband connectivity for...
Blue Sky Network Skylink 6100

Midband SATCOM terminal for maritime data, telemetry, and monitoring

Midband SATCOM terminal for maritime data, telemetry, and monitoring
...0 is a midband maritime SATCOM terminal powered by Iridium Certus 100 connectivity and designed to...

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