FleetBroadband is maritime
satellite internet
Satellite Internet access is Internet access provided through communication satellites. Modern consumer grade satellite Internet service is typically provided to individual users through geostationary satellites that can offer relatively high d ...
,
telephony
Telephony ( ) is the field of technology involving the development, application, and deployment of telecommunication services for the purpose of electronic transmission of voice, fax, or data, between distant parties. The history of telephony is i ...
,
SMS texting, and
ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a set of communication standards for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over the digitalised circuits of the public switched telephone network. Work ...
network for
ocean-going vessels using portable domed terminal
antennas
In radio engineering, an antenna or aerial is the interface between radio waves propagating through space and electric currents moving in metal conductors, used with a transmitter or receiver. In transmission, a radio transmitter supplies an ...
.
These antennas, and corresponding indoor controllers, are used to connect phones and laptop computers from sailing vessels with the rest of the world. All FleetBroadband antennas require
line-of-sight to one of three
geosynchronous orbit satellites thus allowing the terminal to be used anywhere, including on land.
Details
The FleetBroadband network was developed by
Inmarsat and is composed of three
geosynchronous orbiting satellites called
I-4s that allow contiguous global coverage, except for the poles.
FleetBroadband systems installed on vessels may travel from ocean to ocean without human interaction. Line-of-sight to the ''I-4'' satellites is required for connectivity, which can be achieved even in rough rolling seas. Since the FleetBroadband network uses the
L band
The L band is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) designation for the range of frequencies in the radio spectrum from 1 to 2 gigahertz (GHz). This is at the top end of the ultra high frequency (UHF) band, at the lower en ...
, rain fade is much less of an issue than VSAT or
C Band systems.
The FleetBroadband service was modeled after terrestrial Internet services where
IP (Internet Protocol)-based traffic dominated over
ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a set of communication standards for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over the digitalised circuits of the public switched telephone network. Work ...
and other earlier communication protocols. In the long-term, IP traffic is becoming more and more dominant as is being standardized for data, and voice and text communication.
Terminals
There are three-terminal antenna types available: The FB150 antenna (291 × 275 mm), commercially launched in 2009, is capable of 150 kbit/s, the FB250 antenna (329 × 276 mm) is capable of 284 kbit/s, the FB500 antenna (605 × 630 mm) capable of up to 432 kbit/s. The latter two commercially launched in 2007. Current manufacturers of FleetBroadband systems include Thrane & Thrane (Sailor Systems), Wideye (Skipper), KVH, and JRC.
See also
*
SES Broadband for Maritime
SES Broadband for Maritime is a two-way satellite broadband Internet service for use on private boats and commercial ships throughout European waters.
SES Broadband for Maritime provides high-speed Internet access (at up to 2 Mbit/s downlink) alo ...
*
Stratos Global Corporation
Stratos Global Corporation was a Canada-based telecommunications company founded in 1985, mainly serving maritime, government and oil and gas markets around the world. It was acquired by Inmarsat in 2009.
Stratos offers mobile and fixed satel ...
, makers of AmosConnect
References
{{Reflist
External links
Inmarsat FleetBroadband website
Satellite telephony
Satellite Internet access
Maritime communication