ViaSat will Provide Maritime Satellite Communication System for Star Cruises
CARLSBAD, Calif., June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Star Cruises is implementing ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship voice, data, and video communication onboard its fleet of cruise ships using StarWire DAMA IP, satellite networking products from ViaSat (Nasdaq: VSAT - news) that provide on-demand communications. When complete, the system will include a shore-based hub station in Port Klang, Malaysia and satellite subscriber terminals for the Star Cruises fleet. The value of the contract from Star Cruises is in excess of US$6.0 million and the network is scheduled to be installed and operating within nine months.
The network will provide the ships with data services operating up to 128 kbps, and seamlessly connect passengers to commercially available carrier-grade services, such as Internet access, video conferencing, and voice communications.
''This network will be crucial for supporting and streamlining our operational data in real time. The StarWire system provides Star Cruises an integrated network for our entire fleet,'' said N. S. Chong, Vice President of Information Technology at Star Cruises.
''We are pleased to be working with Star Cruises, a leader in the cruise line industry. This new relationship provides ViaSat with a significant opportunity in the maritime market,'' said Tom Wittenschlaeger, Vice President and General Manager of ViaSat's StarWire business unit.
This application is the first integration of StarWire as a maritime network, and also takes advantage of its ability to combine carrier grade voice services and clear channel data services up to 2 Mbps. The Star Cruises voice and data services will be transmitted over the MeaSat 1 satellite. The Port Klang hub will provide network control and a gateway to land-based networks.
Star Cruises, ''The Leading Cruise Line in Asia-Pacific,'' is one of the five largest cruise lines in the world. The company won five awards this year: the 1999 ''Best Cruise Operator'' in the Annual TTG Travel Awards for the third consecutive year, TravelAsia's Breakthrough Awards 1999 for the ''New Player of the Year,'' ''outstanding cruise saloons,'' and ''outstanding cruise cabins.'' Her megaship, the Super Star Leo, is one of the worlds ten largest ships.
ViaSat, Inc. designs and produces advanced digital communication products, including satellite networks and wireless signal processing equipment for government and commercial markets. Corporate headquarters are located in Carlsbad, California in northern San Diego County, with a branch office in Boston, MA.
For more information contact Bruce Rowe, 760-438-8099.
SOURCE: ViaSat, Inc. |
