European satellite operator SES and SpaceX’s Starlink have unveiled a joint offering called “SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink,” aimed at revolutionizing internet connectivity for cruise operators.
SES, based in Luxembourg, boasts a fleet of over 70 satellites, with a focus on geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO). The company is in the process of upgrading its MEO network with the deployment of mPOWER satellites, with four already operational and seven more slated for launch in the near future.
SpaceX, on the other hand, has a constellation of over 5,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
The joint venture leverages the unique strengths of both companies’ satellite networks to provide seamless connectivity to cruise ships, with SES calling it the “industry’s first end-to-end connectivity solution delivering bandwidth capacity of up to 3 Gbps per ship, enabling a unique guest and crew connectivity experience.”
The service will be offered to in two tiers.
Premium tier (3Gbps/ship) – for the leading ships who wish to deliver the highest throughput in the industry or Pro tier (1.5Gbps/ship) – for the operators who wish to manage user experience by matching the right application to the right orbit.
According to the company SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink will launch in Q4 2023.
