AROUND THE WORLD WITH AN AWARD-WINNING SATCOM NETWORK SOLUTION FOR SHIPS
Hardly any other site can boast as many transport hubs as a port—and almost no other cargo options make it possible to move such a large amount of freight all over the world as maritime and inland shipping. Just like Europe’s ports, these transport solutions also need to be efficiently interconnected by network solutions for ships and able to communicate to promote sustainable growth. This requires secure and sophisticated maritime communication solutions, one of which reaches far and wide. Communication via satellites not only spans the entire planet but also plays a role in realizing modern IT solutions for ports and making cargo ships fit for the increasingly digitalized world of the future.
In the maritime sector, satellite communication (satcom) is vital for both private sailing trips and commercial shipping—not to mention freight companies. It not only makes billing easier thanks to real-time information and session logs but can also aid in corporate decisions thanks to transparent documentation solutions. Combined with top-tier IT security, it enables companies to deploy secure and sophisticated network solutions for ships—including protecting them from malware and viruses both onboard and ashore. All of this is made possible thanks to an innovative and award-winning networking tool developed in Europe. Let’s dive in.
STATE-OF-THE-ART MARITIME COMMUNICATION
Our journey takes us to a country in the south of Europe with thousands of years of tradition in the maritime sector. You guessed it—Greece. OTESAT_MARITEL, a member of the OTE Group, is a leading provider of satcom in the maritime sector and has become a globally recognized provider in the field, supporting the industry with a broad portfolio of products and services. It’s even reflected in the company’s name, as “SAT-MARITEL” stands for SATellite and MARItime TELecommunications.
s@tGate, OTESAT_MARITEL’s flagship and award-winning product, is a state-of-the-art modular VAS and Cyber Security platform for satcoms networks, bandwidth management, optimization, and ICT services provisioning. It was developed specifically and exclusively for the complex marine IP environment and always conforms to the highest security standards.
Essentially designed in the field by both mariners and maritime IT experts, s@tGate emerged out of practical maritime ICT needs. The solution’s in-house development has since gained market recognition as a tool that can be tailored to any maritime enterprise networking demand.
HOW THE NETWORK SOLUTION S@TGATE WORKS
s@tGate works in the background of any satellite link, including GEO constellations such as Inmarsat Ka, L-band, Iridium, VSAT Ku, C-band, LEO ones, and LTE/4G/5G carriers. It operates as a service delivery platform combined with supreme service management capabilities.
The service is provided via OTESAT_MARITEL’S private network and managed remotely shore-side via a centralized hub. Any relevant equipment is hosted on OTESAT_MARITEL’s infrastructure. On the vessel side, there are various hardware options for different maritime applications depending on the customer’s ICT requirements.
A variety of s@tGate core services cover internet, e-mail, VOIP, and firewall protection. The solutions platform offers remote access and network control while s@tGate’s Virtual Machine Manager’s architecture allows modern maritime corporations to integrate and manage additional services and applications.
In combination with IRIS, which is part of s@tGate’s hostable services, users (B2B and Crew) can leverage smart technologies and utilize turnkey digital services within an innovative cyber security solution that boasts an unmatched level of protection—both onshore and onboard. Users also enjoy 24/7 best-in-class Managed Security Services from the largest and most technologically advanced Security Operation Centre in Southeast Europe.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES FOR NEW WAYS TO SUCCESS
s@tGate is the perfect tool to create new potential onboard because it:
- Optimizes a vessel’s overall satellite connectivity throughput by balancing the load of apps running onboard. More specifically, it does this by exploiting all active satellite gateways.
- Permits advanced firewall and network interfaces for both vessel LAN and shore WAN, anytime, as decided by an IT administrator. It distinguishes between business and crew traffic—not to mention permitted services.
- Increases business productivity by prioritizing important traffic when your bandwidth is limited or your primary connectivity is lost. It also uses novel traffic shaping and failover switching techniques.
- Enhances the onboard browsing experience, which is ultimately the same as anyone on land.
- Incorporates state-of-the-art technology to optimize satellite communications. It uses sophisticated caching and compression techniques that essentially multiply the permitted amount of corporate data.
- Assures virtually uninterrupted communications thanks to both specific hardware and software redundancy. It enables users to exploit corresponding hardware resources by hosting corporate services and apps in virtual machines.
- Unlocks the full potential of broadband connectivity, turning it into the ultimate tool to optimize the utilization of precious satellite communication resources.
Moreover, OTESAT_MARITEL’s Information Security Management Policy (ISMS) is designed according to ISO 27001:2005 standards. Any products developed in-house are verified before entering the production phase. Software is also maintained according to predefined procedures.
The company also utilizes secure (inter)connections with partnering satellite providers, and data transfers take place either over private fixed infrastructure or over encrypted connections. OTESAT_MARITEL is an authorized provider of maritime telecommunications and related services by the Hellenic Telecommunications and Postal Commission and ISO 9001:2015-certified by DNV GL.
Security, Service, and support around the clock
Needless to say, the networking solution also comes with 24/7 technical support to ensure smooth shipping traffic across Europe and around the globe. All in all, s@tgate offers state-of-the-art technology that helps optimize maritime satellite communications.
For ship crews, the network solution for ships assures virtually uninterrupted communications thanks not only to leading hardware but also built-in software redundancy. It also helps unlock the full potential of broadband connectivity by turning it into the ultimate networking tool to optimize the use of satcom resources.
Ultimately, the portfolio is emblematic of the wide range of applications catered for by T Business’ future-proof technologies for enterprises—from seamless communication to connectivity solutions and contemporary IT security services.