LUXEMBOURG & OSLO, Norway--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 30, 2016--
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), operator of the world’s first Globalized
Network, powered by its leading satellite backbone, announced today that
Marlink, the global business critical communication solutions
specialist, selected Intelsat to deliver fast, high quality Intelsat EpicNG
broadband connectivity to Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) cruise
ships. At the end of May, MSC Cruises began to apply the benefits of EpicNG’s
high throughput connectivity aboard the MSC Divina, one of the world’s
largest cruise ships. Utilizing Intelsat’s Globalized Network, Marlink
will provide broadband connectivity to all of MSC Cruises’ 12 existing
ships, ensuring all of the Company’s ships will be covered globally.
Passengers and crew members are demanding mobile broadband on par with
the speeds and reliability experienced at home. The agreement with
Intelsat enables Marlink to supplement its existing maritime VSAT
services with Sealink Cloud Services to one of the world’s largest, and
fastest growing cruise lines. As a result, MSC Cruises will be able to
deliver high speed, reliable and affordable connectivity packages to
passengers and crew members anywhere the cruise ships travel.
Under the existing long-term partnership agreement signed in 2014,
Marlink will take advantage of the flexibility and scale of Intelsat’s
fully interoperable and integrated satellite network to provide MSC
Cruises with global coverage for their worldwide itineraries. Marlink
will use wide beam C- and Ku-band satellite solutions from nine Intelsat
satellites initially, as well as Ku-band high throughput spot beams from
Intelsat 29e, the first of the Intelsat EpicNG fleet, and
Intelsat 33e, once it enters service in the second half of the year.
Marlink will also leverage the IntelsatOne terrestrial network,
specifically teleports located in Georgia and California in the U.S., as
well as Germany and South Korea.
“When serving a ‘floating town’ such as a cruise ship with connectivity
requirements for its various itineraries globally, delivering consistent
quality and reliability is essential to the passenger experience and the
brand integrity of the customer that we are serving,” said Tore Morten
Olsen, President Maritime, Marlink. “With Intelsat, we are providing a
scalable and robust solution to MSC Cruises, delivering on high volume
broadband demands across many ships operating in high-traffic regions.
The high performing, resilient and secure network will enable our
customer to further streamline vessel operations, deliver superior
services to its crew and most importantly, keep thousands of passengers
on each of their ships connected at all times.”
Kurt Riegelman, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Intelsat,
said: “Marlink has been a great partner and understands the value that
Intelsat’s fully integrated wide beam and high throughput global network
can deliver to its customers, particularly those operating a fleet of
ships in the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean ocean
regions at the same time. Our Globalized Network will enable Marlink to
quickly and cost effectively scale to meet its customer demands and
consistently deliver high performing, resilient and secure broadband
connectivity to the many ships operated by their cruise ship customer.”
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 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.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160630005233/en/
Source: Intelsat and Marlink
Intelsat
Michele Loguidice
Director, Investor Relations
& Corporate Communications
703-559-7372
Michele.loguidice@intelsat.com
or
Marlink
Knut
Natvig
Press & PR Director
+47 48 030 911