The prices for maritime broadband change continuously, making it interesting to compare different aspects of the communication between ship and shore. The Platform Broadband@Sea wants to create more insight into these prices through conducting a comparative study.
Transparency
In 2008 the Platform Broadband@Sea published a similar price comparison of maritime broadband costs. A lot has changed since; VSAT is now widely accepted and airtime providers announced and implemented multiple innovations in broadband services. The initial comparison contained an overview of monthly costs for high and low data usage on board seagoing vessels, focusing on the main three ‘environments’ within the satellite market: Inmarsat, Iridium and VSAT. This overview caused discussions, but more importantly increased transparency and awareness within the maritime broadband market.
The Study
Just like the first comparison, the independent partner Outsource-IT Management will execute this study into coverages, upload and download speed, monthly fees, contention ratios, terminal dimensions and some other aspects involving the price/quality ratio of maritime broadband. The new comparison will be presented in Q4 of this year and includes a fourth ‘environment’: the hybrid broadband solutions.
Broadband@Sea
The Platform Broadband@Sea, initiated by HME in 2007, comprises shipowners, shipping companies, a number of leading maritime suppliers and branches. The Platform aims at promoting broadband links for seagoing vessels by providing independent information about these connections and giving suppliers the opportunity to develop software and tools for usage via a broadband link.
Platform Partners
The results of the price comparison will be presented to the partners of the Platform, which currently consists of Anthony Veder, Spliethoff, Stolt Tankers, Vroon, Wagenborg, Amarcon, Meteo Consult, Theunissen Technical Trading, Virtek, Elektrikom, Iridium, IT@SEA, KVH, Mach6, Marlink, Radio Holland, Satmarin, Stratos, Worldlink, Horizon Globex, Outsource-IT Management and HME.
