Background: The Challenges of Staying Connected at Sea
For years, communication at sea has posed a significant challenge for shipping companies. These companies strive to integrate their ships into the broader IT infrastructure similar to land-based warehouses, for streamlined operations. However, the reality of life at sea introduces unique obstacles – crews spend months away from home, unable to connect regularly with loved ones or access familiar entertainment. Communication with family has traditionally been limited to costly ship-to-shore radio calls, and entertainment options have been restricted to region-specific satellite programming and any personal media crew members bring aboard.
Problem: Building a Seamless IT Solution for Maritime Operations
Following a successful SD-WAN integration across all its land-based sites, a global shipping company recognized the need to extend these operational benefits to its fleet. The company turned to Nitel to address the distinct communication needs of maritime operations, aiming to offer the same seamless connectivity enjoyed onshore.
Solution: Leveraging LEO with SD-WAN Integration
The timing was ideal – Starlink was rolling out its low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, including a maritime solution. While LEO alone would address many connectivity issues, the shipping company realized that relying solely on a single service provider wasn’t viable. Coverage remained inconsistent in certain regions, and the challenges of managing multiple satellite connections required specialized IT expertise that was impractical to maintain on board. They needed a system that could seamlessly switch between various satellite channels to ensure consistent high-quality communication across the globe.
Nitel implemented a layered SD-WAN solution, integrating multiple satellite channels and creating a resilient network that could automatically select the best-performing connection at any given moment This intelligent SD-WAN layer enabled the shipping company’s fleet to operate as an extension of their land-based network.
Results: Improved Operations and Crew Experience
The impact of Nitel’s SD-WAN integration was profound. Ships could now function as efficiently as any land-based site, fully integrated into the company’s IT infrastructure. The crew gained the ability to make calls, access video calls, and communicate on their devices whenever needed, just as if they were on land. Additionally, the SD-WAN’s dynamic management of satellite links ensured the highest-quality connection at all times.
Not only did the operational efficiency of the fleet improve, but crew morale noticeably lifted as they reconnected with family and accessed entertainment more freely. This groundbreaking SD-WAN integration at sea transformed both the efficiency of maritime operations and quality of life for those working on the ships.