Hermes presents new mobile VSAT unit with WiFi access to satellite Internet

A new mobile wireless VSAT solution has emerged from the development labs of Hermes Datacomms. The Company's new wireless mobile VSAT unit will supplement its existing services for customers in dangerous and extreme environments.

Mounted on a trailer, the self-contained system can deploy within four minutes at the push of a button. It will provide instant WiFi access to satellite Internet even in hot, dusty, or wet environments.

Hermes is reportedly highly enthused about the new VSAT system, which it describes to be even simpler and more reliable than the mobile systems the Company currently operates in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Both new and old Hermes Datacomms VSAT systems leverage the high-power C-band beams and regional Ku-band beams of the AMOS-5 satellite.

Astrium Services widens maritime VSAT bandwidth, services, coverage

Astrium Services made it known that the major extensions to their worldwide VSAT satellite communications services have been completed. The Company can now provide greater bandwidth, more services, and the broadest commercially-available global coverage through a larger number of small maritime VSAT antenna.

Back in September 2012, Astrium Services announced that it has improved the coverage and service of its Pharostar, Sealink, and Wavecall brands. The three Astrium maritime VSAT services use iDirect technology to meet the maritime market's need for high-performance broadband connectivity.

Astrium had boosted data throughput speeds for both standardized VSAT systems and the Sealink custom solutions. Standard very small aperture terminals can reach 3 Mbps while Sealink solutions can hit up to 10 Mbps. This means faster data transfers and more cost-efficient connections for maritime vessels who use Astrium services.

The improved speeds of Astrium VSAT services will be able to provide fast and always-on connectivity to maritime applications such as Internet from satellite access, email, voice calls, fax and SMS, database backup, video and file transfer protocol for business and crew communications.

In addition, Astrium has completed its geographical coverage extensions over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in October 2012. The Company expects to extend its services to the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean before the year ends. Astrium VSAT service customers will automatically receive coverage in the new areas. 

The Astrium services can also be combined with both Ku-band and complimentary MSS connectivity, allowing the maritime vessel to stay connected even outside VSAT coverage zones. Another optional is the Vizada XChange control platform, which can enhance the VSAT extension through its remote fleet management services.