Rapid installation to save shipping companies' time & budgets
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 25 November 2012: 24 hours is all it takes to get a VSAT up and running, according to the new commitment that Marlink, an Astrium Services company, is making. The established satcom provider has developed a concise antenna installation and commissioning system that will support engineers and crews to have vessels fully connected to Marlink's WaveCall standardized VSAT service in just 24 hours.
"Through our centrally managed global network of service partners and field engineers, Marlink can have a vessel fully connected on VSAT for voice and data traffic in 24 hours or less," explains Tore Morten Olsen, Head of Maritime Services at Astrium Services Business Communication. "The perceived complexity of VSAT procurement and installation may have been a barrier to some customers in the past, so we have optimised our processes to ensure installation to high standards in a very short timeframe."
Marlink's VSAT installation program means that its WaveCall standardized VSAT services can be installed during scheduled port-calls anywhere in the world, without affecting a vessel's operational schedule. With field engineers all over the world, Marlink is able to board a vessel in port and have the VSAT connectivity up and running in 24 hours, as long as the operator and owner agree to support the process by preparing certain aspects in advance. A customer installation document is used to provide confirmation that all equipment has been delivered, in addition to checking off that preparation of the antenna pedestal, rack mounting, cabling, power and gyro connections has been completed. All Marlink deliveries and installations are completely transparent and over the online portal, customers can track the installation status at all stages.
Magne Remoy, Marlink Director, Middle East and Africa said, "This express installation service is of real benefit to the customers with less complex satcom requirements. Being able to offer them a 24-hour VSAT installation on standard and pre-configured products such as Wavecall, is very appealing. Obviously more complex services like our Sealink dual C-band antennae requires more time for installation."
"As part of Marlink's strategy going forward," Magne Remoy continues, "we are focusing heavily on the Middle East and Asia regions in our provision of express installation and cost-effective solutions. This is what many of our customers are looking for so we are always looking for ways to accommodate and exceed expectations. It's important to highlight the long term reassurance of our far-reaching customer support which our customers can expect now that we are a member of the Astrium group. That quality is not always possible when customers are signed up to smaller, more vulnerable providers in a highly competitive market."
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For further information please contact:
Knut Natvig
Marlink PR
T: +47 48 030 911
E: knut.natvig@marlink.com
Sue Hean
Broadreach PR
T: +971 (0) 504200486
E: sue@broadreachpr.net
Marlink is an Astrium Services company, a world leading provider of satellite services. Providing access to the broadest range of product and service choices, Marlink can support virtually any requirement for maritime connectivity worldwide. The company's unrivalled portfolio includes on-demand services such as Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya, as well as its own range of C-band and Ku-band VSAT solutions. Marlink routes communication through its own teleports to ensure high quality, reliability and flexibility for its customers. With offices worldwide, including Athens, Brussels, Dubai, Hamburg, Houston, London, Mumbai, Oslo, Washington DC, Singapore, Stavanger and Tokyo, Marlink is able to support its wide-ranging portfolio with installation and customer support that is offered on a global basis. www.marlink.com
Astrium is the number one company in Europe for space technologies and the third in the world. In 2011, Astrium had a turnover close to €5 billion and 18,000 employees worldwide, mainly in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.
Astrium is the sole European company that covers the whole range of civil and defence space systems and services. Its three business units are: Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure; Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment; Astrium Services for comprehensive fixed and mobile end-to-end solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security and broadcast satellite communications equipment and systems, and bespoke geo-information services, worldwide.
Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2011, the Group - comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter - generated revenues of € 49.1 billion and employed a workforce of over 133,000. www.astrium.eads.net
© Press Release 2012
