Singtel has announced its collaboration with Starlink to enhance maritime digital services, facilitating ship owners and operators in adopting advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, edge computing, and cloud-based solutions.
This initiative aims to improve operational safety, efficiency, and crew welfare in the maritime sector. The integration of Starlink’s satellites into Singtel’s offerings is expected to offer enhanced connectivity and low latency capabilities, enabling real-time data analysis for increased productivity and reduced operational costs, including fuel consumption and maintenance.
Starlink, recognized as the first low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband service, joins Singtel’s iSHIP platform, an award-winning suite of digital smart solutions for vessels. This also includes Singtel’s Paragon platform, a comprehensive orchestration tool for 5G edge computing and cloud services.
Paragon will manage smart switching between satellite communication services, ensuring continuous, high-quality network coverage across long distances and in remote or challenging conditions. This will also allow ships to utilize edge computing for hosting critical applications, either on-premises or ashore, enhancing bandwidth utilization and reliability.
“The addition of Starlink to our existing suite of satellite communications solutions, orchestrated by our patented Paragon platform, is part of our multi-orbit strategy. This aims to increase the resilience of satellite connectivity in the industry and to enable the rapid adoption of digital technologies and solutions,” said Bill Chang, Chief Executive Officer of Digital InfraCo at Singtel earlier this week.
He also highlighted Singtel’s position as the first Singaporean telecom company to offer Starlink, expressing confidence in its potential to drive the development of smart, secure, and sustainable solutions in the maritime industry.
This partnership marks a transformative step in the maritime sector, focusing on hyperconnectivity to enhance operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve safety and security.
Starlink has over 5,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit, and for global maritime coverage of vessels of all sizes, download speeds are up to 220 Mbps. The internet service offers high-speed access to the entire planet, changing lives in rural areas.
