Building on strong Maritime VSAT sales in 2015 through its partnership
with Intelsat, Marlink Ready to Offer Customers Intelsat EpicNG
HTS services
Maritime customers will be able to access HTS services via Intelsat EpicNG
over Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific following the launch
of Intelsat 33e later this year
LUXEMBOURG & WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 8, 2016--
Marlink and Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), operator of the world’s first
Globalized Network, powered by its leading satellite backbone, announced
today that their strategic agreement – initiated in 2014 to introduce
improved maritime offerings to the marketplace – continues to pay
dividends for the companies and the maritime end-users. Marlink
continues to roll out additional connectivity services via Intelsat’s
Globalized Network which includes secure access to Intelsat’s global
Ku-band capacity and terrestrially managed network, IntelsatOne. Marlink
is now preparing to deliver a quantum improvement in throughput that
will help satisfy end-user demand as the first of the Intelsat EpicNG
satellites is on schedule to be integrated into the network solution in
the second quarter of 2016.
The surge in data across the maritime sector helped drive the creation
of the partnership between Marlink, the leader in maritime VSAT by
market share, according to Comsys, and Intelsat, the leading provider of
maritime broadband services for FSS operators in C- and Ku-band,
according to NSR. This strong partnership has already yielded value for
end-users. Marlink’s new and existing customers, such as Rickmers and
Stena Line, leverage their innovative applications for vessel operations
in addition to enhancing passenger and crew connectivity services over
Intelsat satellites.
Along with access to Intelsat’s Globalized Network, the agreement
enables Marlink to supplement its existing maritime VSAT services with
the high throughput Intelsat EpicNG platform. Intelsat EpicNG
is backwards compatible with Intelsat’s existing Ku-band and C-band
network and will deliver higher throughput and power to enable the use
of smaller terminals in the maritime sector. The “Intelsat EpicNG-ready”
design of the Marlink network will enable maritime customers to cost
effectively and seamlessly incorporate this higher throughput into their
operations.
Intelsat 29e is currently undergoing in-orbit testing at its orbital
location at 310° E and is on track to begin operations in the second
quarter of 2016. It will provide coverage over the Americas, Caribbean
and the heavily traveled North Atlantic route. Future Intelsat EpicNG
launches will ensure that Marlink and its customers have access to a
fully global and integrated satellite solution that delivers consistent,
high throughput services. Intelsat 33e, scheduled for launch later in
the year, will bring capacity over Europe, Africa and Asia, while
Horizons 3e will complete the Intelsat EpicNG global
footprint in 2018.
“The coverage and throughput that Intelsat’s Globalized Network delivers
are critical features that help us stand out in a competitive market,”
said Tore Morten Olsen, President Maritime, Marlink. “Even more
importantly, the flexibility to choose and control the design of our
networks enables us to cost-effectively meet end-user demand regardless
of location, a critical feature given that our customers operate around
the globe. The higher power and performance delivered by Intelsat EpicNG
will support our provision of high speeds which will support our users
across all maritime segments, but will be particularly relevant to
offshore and cruise vessel customers who depend on high levels of
reliable bandwidth in daily operations.”
Kurt Riegelman, Senior Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing,
Intelsat, said: “The confidence that Marlink has shown in Intelsat has
affirmed our position as the number one provider of wholesale satellite
communication to the maritime sector. Marlink’s growth – even before the
first Intelsat EpicNG satellite begins operations – confirms
that we have taken the right approach with our HTS platform. Our
customers can differentiate and add more value to their offerings. With
maritime services demand forecasted to grow, this will help them take
advantage of an attractive opportunity.”
Supporting Resources:
About Intelsat
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) operates the world’s first Globalized Network,
delivering high-quality, cost-effective video and broadband services
anywhere in the world. Intelsat’s Globalized Network combines the
world’s largest satellite backbone with terrestrial infrastructure,
managed services and an open, interoperable architecture to enable
customers to drive revenue and reach through a new generation of network
services. Thousands of organizations serving billions of people
worldwide rely on Intelsat to provide ubiquitous broadband connectivity,
multi-format video broadcasting, secure satellite communications and
seamless mobility services. The end result is an entirely new world, one
that allows us to envision the impossible, connect without boundaries
and transform the ways in which we live. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com.
About Marlink
Marlink, an Airbus Defence and Space company, is the pioneer of business
critical communication solutions for customers operating in remote
environments. With 600 employees and 27 offices worldwide, the company
is the largest technology-independent satellite communication and
digital solutions provider serving the maritime and enterprise markets.
Marlink’s multi-band communication services covering Ku, Ka, C and
L-band extended with mobile and terrestrial links, enable over 200,000
customers to operate in an ever smarter, safer and more profitable way.
With over 75 years' experience in developing innovative business
critical communication solutions, Marlink’s strategy is to deliver the
benefits of a digital and connected world to its customers’ remote
operations. Today Marlink is the leading maritime communication and VSAT
operator in the world. Marlink leverages strong partnerships with all
major satellite network operators to deliver communication solutions
direct to the customer and via an unrivalled network of service provider
partners. www.marlink.com
Intelsat Safe Harbor Statement:
Statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements"
that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. When
used in this release, the words “may,” “will,” “might,” “should,”
“expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “project,” “believe,” “estimate,”
“predict,” “intend,” “potential,” “outlook,” and “continue,” and the
negative of these terms, and other similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements and information.
The forward-looking statements reflect Intelsat's intentions, plans,
expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are
subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are
outside of Intelsat's control. Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied
in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Known
risks include, among others, the risks described in Intelsat’s annual
report on Form 20-F for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December
31, 2015, and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Because actual results could differ materially from Intelsat's
intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the
future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements with
caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160308005909/en/
Source: Intelsat
Intelsat
Michele Loguidice, 703-559-7372
Director,
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Michele.loguidice@intelsat.com
or
Marlink
Knut
Natvig, +47 48 030 911
Press & PR Director
