netTALK Maritime, a firm specializing in marine communication intelligence solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet network.
The collaboration aims to revolutionize marine connectivity by offering high-speed, low-latency internet solutions to cruise and commercial shipping clients globally.
Under this alliance, netTALK will act as the account administrator, providing comprehensive services that include installation, network configuration, maintenance, and full account management.
The company plans to install satellite kits and offer ‘priority’ service plans for businesses and high-demand users, as well as ‘mobile priority’ service plans specifically tailored for maritime, emergency response, and mobile businesses, reports Port Technology.
Unlike traditional satellite internet services that rely on geostationary satellites at a distance of 35,786 kilometers, Starlink operates a constellation of satellites much closer to Earth, approximately 550 kilometers away, utilizing a laser mesh network for global coverage. This proximity significantly reduces latency to about 25 milliseconds, compared to the industry average of 600 milliseconds in older systems.
Garry Paxinos, CTO of netTALK Maritime, stated, “Adding Starlink’s high-speed satellite connectivity to our products onboard ships of all sizes greatly enhances our product offering and significantly improves passenger and crew communication experiences.”
The partnership comes after Hapag-Lloyd announced in September its plans to implement Starlink’s satellite broadband service across its entire fleet.
