SES introduced the launch of the primary two O3b mPOWER satellites at a presentation held on December 16, 2022.
The firm’s connectivity answer, enabled by satellites, is promising to revolutionize using the web on cruise ships. mPOWER satellites will present constant, dependable web entry in all places, whether or not at sea or within the air.
SES has been engaged on offering dependable connectivity by way of their Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) answer for some time now, nonetheless, the corporate is now launching a brand new constellation of mPOWER satellites that can additional enhance the web on cruise ships.
The first two O3b mPOWER satellites are about to be launched from Cape Canaveral whereas some cruise traces, like Princess Cruises, have already adopted SES’ connectivity options with a view to allow their friends to have web entry aboard their ships.
“Connectivity is beyond fundamental,” mentioned John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.
“It’s one thing to call something important, critical, fundamental, but now it’s actually beyond that.”
Previously, connectivity was non-compulsory on cruise ships and restricted at finest.
“People thought we were insane to suggest that we could have cloud services on a cruise ship. That was always thought to be structurally impossible,” added Padgett.
Princess Cruises expanded its partnership with SES to allow O3b mPOWER satellite-based communications system which considerably elevated the bandwidth capability on Princess’ ships.
“At that time (2015) you know, on a cruise ship was still deemed kind of an optional amenity and we only had like 40 Mbps and o3b was a game changer. We literally integrated everything on the ship back to real-time communications so we’re talking about food, beverage, entertainment, retail, casino, all the industrial processes, all the machinery processes and connected that through O3b.”
“That’s what we’re excited about mPOWER because that’s going to take us up the next level,” concluded Padgett.