Last month Valour Consultancy, which specialises in the aviation and maritime sectors, issued its latest Maritime Connectivity Tracker Update and found that:
- As of November 2024, 31,300 vessels were actively using GEO/MEO VSAT; an increase of ~4,000 vessels from the last quarter in 2023.
- more than 22,400 vessels were using Starlink’s LEO services
As discussed in these previous blogs, Enhancing Satellite Connectivity with Telecom26’s Global Mobile Data Service and Starlink, Telecom26 and mobile maritime connectivity, despite Starlink’s global reach, there are still some areas where it doesn’t yet have coverage. You can see all Starlink’s dark countries in the map on its website. And, of course, these gaps can shift, as some regulators enforce a change in policy.
As a maritime MNO, providing maritime mobile connectivity is one of Telecom26’s core services. We have a number of specialist maritime mobile connectivity offerings which enable vessels, and the people and devices on-board, to maintain robust communication and data exchange, even in remote waters.
Our maritime mobile connectivity customers include leisure yachts, fishing boats, container ships, ferries and other vessels. We also provide connectivity to inland ports and rivers as shipping companies usually need connectivity on-land as well as at sea to monitor their freight as it moves out of and into a port.
The Telecom26 difference for maritime mobile connectivity
Our maritime mobile connectivity team always highlight to current and potential maritime mobile connectivity customers that satellite is often not necessary to provide fast and reliable connectivity to vessels.
This is because land-based cellular networks can reach up to 50km out to sea.
So, there is no need for vessels that hug the shore to use more expensive satellite when they could be using Telecom26’s Nearshore Connectivity Service.
As discussed in this blog about our partnership with MiWire, vessels tend to spend above 80% of time within sight of the shore and can therefore access land-based cellular networks. With MiWire, Telecom26 has brought fast and reliable data at a reduced price for commercial vessels — particularly ferries — that often sail on the same routes. This is particularly applicable to cargo vessels and ferries that cross relatively narrow straits – for example, the English Channel.
In short, Telecom26's extensive roaming agreements with local mobile carriers across the world ensure that vessels have continuous connectivity where satellite solutions might not always be the most cost-effective or reliable.
Telecom26’s maritime mobile connectivity services complement satellite coverage and are used to close satellite coverage gaps, as well as providing an alternative, rather than a replacement, of satellite.
VMS, Telecom26 and maritime mobile connectivity
Last year we also partnered with VMS to enhance maritime connectivity for commercial vessels. Our Talk, Travel and Text Service is proving popular with VMS’ customers as it is also available for crews on long journeys through and along multiple countries.
Our recently announced partnership with Threema also gives crews access to a highly secure messaging app which prioritises privacy and operational efficiency as well as our global maritime mobile connectivity service
Telecom26 maritime mobile connectivity services
Telecom26 offers:
- A full Cellular at Sea service
- A Nearshore Connectivity Service that uses land-based cellular networks which can provide coverage to vessels as far out as 50km
- Networks for onboard personal communications. You can read more about this here: Mobile Private Networks for Cruise Ships and the Merchant Navy
- A Maritime IoT/M2M Service including private networks on-board vessels, oil rigs and platforms – and supply chain tracking
- Our Talk, Travel and Text Service, a business travel eSIM that gives Business Class connectivity in more than 200 countries, with more than 1100 roaming partners worldwide. Available via a monthly subscription bundle, Talk, Text & Travel provides the flexibility needed to manage costs and control usage. Our eSIMs complement the existing mobile subscriptions of users who can switch to their domestic operator when they are in home waters.
- Our SIM management portal offers fleet managers full control over SIM usage, data consumption, and network selection, ensuring cost-effectiveness and connectivity control.
We also provide connectivity to inland ports and rivers as shipping companies usually need connectivity on-land as well as at sea to monitor their freight as it moves out of and into a port.
Telecom26 – get in touch to improve your maritime mobile connectivity
Telecom26 is both a maritime MNO and a full global MVNO for terrestrial coverage.
We provide a full range of telecom services and connectivity options including 5G (where available), LTE-M, Wi-Fi, private networks, 2G, 3G and 4G, as well offshore connectivity capabilities and GPS tracking.
If you would like to organise a video call to discuss how we can help improve the global and maritime mobile connectivity of the people, equipment and devices on-board your vessels including IoT and M2M, please get in touch.
We will be attending:
- Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, 3-6 March
So again please get in touch if you’re also going to MWC and would like to meet-up.
