By
Alex Smith |
Communications and IT services provider Speedcast is delivering expanded connectivity services to Lindblad Expeditions after the companies agreed a multi-year contract extension.
Speedcast will provide geostationary (GEO) and Starlink low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite services, as well as cellular near-shore wireless, L-band satellite and upgraded SD-WAN and Sigma solutions.
The provider will install two maritime, flat-panel, high-performance antennas onboard many of Lindblad’s ships by the end of the year, allowing for the addition of Starlink services. Starlink has been integrated into Speedcast’s Unified Global Platform (UGP), which guarantees connectivity levels while at sea.
“With the launch of Starlink, our guests, crew, and Visiting Scientists will be able to stay connected like never before while still immersing themselves in some of the world’s most remote, fascinating places,” said Arthur Theodorou, vice president of information technology at Lindblad Expeditions. “Speedcast has enabled us to exceed the expectations of our guests in terms of connectivity, voyage after voyage. Furthermore, enhancing onboard technologies with the introduction of Starlink LEO service has proven to be beneficial as part of a comprehensive solution from Speedcast.”
Speedcast’s UGP implementation for Lindblad Expeditions will also include an upgrade to a software-defined wide area network, which blends multiple transmission paths into a single optimised network. Speedcast will also implement Sigma, its cloud-based solution that manages access to global networks across GEO and LEO satellite, L-band and cellular near-shore wireless to provide uninterrupted service.
“The decision to further enhance the capabilities available to much of its fleet demonstrates Lindblad’s commitment to a superior guest and crew onboard experience,” said Brent Horwitz, senior vice president of cruise and ferry at Speedcast. “The future of satellite is software-defined, and our expedition cruise customers are among the first companies to see this benefit in their daily operations.”