The Golden Globe race starts in September and will be keenly followed by our team of maritime connectivity experts. Described as the most dangerous sailing race in the world, this is actually only the third time the race has been held. The first in 1968-9 was won by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who consequently became the first person to sail single handed and non-stop around the world. His voyage lasted just over ten months.
The 2018-9 race was held to celebrate the anniversary of Sir Robin’s achievements and was so successful that the race is on again this year.
The 2022 Golden Globe Race will require all entrants to use only the same type or similar equipment and technology that was carried on board Robin’s 1968/69 race winning yacht Suhaili. This means that sailors are not allowed to use any kind of maritime connectivity device including GPS - and must navigate without using any outside information. Anyone who stops or uses their portable GPS will be disqualified.
Sailing The High Seas: IoT Maritime Connectivity keeps the crew of yachts connected
As a global maritime connectivity operator, Telecom26 provides connectivity across the world using our global maritime connectivity service.
We provide IoT maritime connectivity, maritime cellular communications and nearshore maritime connectivity services to leisure yachts, fishing boats, cruise ships, tankers and cargo ships of all shapes, sizes and countries of origin.
Yachting is a particularly niche market well served by our maritime connectivity service portfolio.
IoT Maritime Connectivity at Sea
Sailing today is a sport and leisure activity whose safety has been transformed by electronic communications and the development of IoT and AI technologies enabling real-time monitoring of a boat’s position, condition - and alerting skippers to potential future difficulties.
A far cry from the romance, and unreliability, of relying on the stars…
For years, satellite has been the mainstay for maritime connectivity - nearshore and offshore. Fact is, however, that most vessels spend the majority of their time in port or hugging the coast. This means that it’s far more cost-effective to use existing cellular networks for nearshore maritime connectivity rather than satellite.
However, the major problem with the cellular at sea approach is that traditionally multiple SIMs have been required to ensure coverage throughout a vessel’s journey, especially when it’s travelling cross-border.
With the specific goal of improving connectivity at sea - and in remote landlocked areas around the world, Telecom26 developed its Multi-IMSI global SIM cards paired with the Telecom26 cellular router, which are at the heart of our nearshore maritime connectivity and global IoT maritime connectivity services.
With just one of our SIMs the devices of sailors will automatically and seamlessly switch from one local network to another throughout their voyage.
Telecom26 SIMs are compatible with 1100 cellular networks from over 650 mobile operators in more than 200 countries which means that wherever your sea legs take you, we’ll be connecting you all the way.
Smart yachts: communicating data from multiple on-board sensors
For yachts - and larger vessels of course - that have, or will have, multiple sensors tracking the condition of both the ship and its contents, a more sophisticated solution is needed.
This is where Telecom26’s multi-IMSI routers come in. These act as a single route into the on-board IoT network and, like our single global SIMs, can automatically switch between multiple cellular networks - and wifi, LANs and satellite - so that they always use the best available connected network.
With rates as low as €2 per GB, and data bundles of up to 2.5TB, Telecom26’s nearshore maritime connectivity and global IoT maritime connectivity service is now even more affordable - and optimised for yachts, ships and offshore infrastructure.
To learn more about Telecom26’s suite of nearshore maritime connectivity and global IoT maritime connectivity services please visit click here.
And, finally, wishing all the sailors in this year’s Golden Globe race safe travels and the best of luck.
Telecom26, maritime connectivity, nearshore connectivity and private networks at sea
We offer bespoke maritime and marine communications services that integrate inbound and outbound roaming, with full support of data services. Fortunately, the maritime connectivity services provided by Telecom26 that enable crews to communicate with their loved ones, watch Netflix, do their banking online etc use the same infrastructure necessary to support the digital transformation of operations on-board including IoT.
Our maritime connectivity services include:
- A full Cellular At Sea service for vessels of all sizes
- A Nearshore Connectivity Service - Our recent blog “Nearshore Connectivity - perfect for vessels up to 30km off the coast” discusses how most ships and vessels spend the majority (up to 60%) of their time in port or in coastal waters. They are therefore within range of land-based cellular networks which can provide coverage to vessels as far out as 30km. So, instead of relying on costly satellite for data or connectivity, vessels – and the people on-board - can use these cellular networks.
- A Maritime IoT Service including private networks on-board vessels, oil rigs and platforms – and supply chain tracking
At the heart of our maritime connectivity services are our Global eSIM and physical SIM cards. These provide data to all onboard devices via cellular data links. By onboard devices we mean Wi-Fi routers, container sensors, IoT networks, any system process that needs to connect to the internet, to a remote server or monitor – as well as the phones and devices of the crew.
Our Global eSIM and physical SIMs can access most terrestrial and maritime networks. Not all networks are equally available – some offer better coverage in some locations than others. And, every country has its own range of terrestrial network operators. This means that, as a vessel moves along the coast, different networks may be available.
For vessel owners,who care about the welfare of their crew, and understand that being able to communicate with the outside world during a voyage improves the quality of life of their team, there are a few different options to provide connectivity to their crews:
- Supply Telecom26 Global eSIM cards for sailors to insert in their personal devices. The fleet owner could pick up the cost of these or charge a fixed rate. Either way it would work out cheaper for the sailors than roaming on random networks as they travel.
- Use Telecom26 routers to create a private on-board LAN/Wi-Fi network which the crew can access.
Discussing your maritime connectivity requirements
If you’d like to arrange a call to discuss how our maritime connectivity and maritime cellular communications services can connect the people and devices on-board your vessels as they travel around the world then please get in touch.
Catching-Up In-Person
Later in the year Telecom26 will be attending these major international trade fairs:
SMM
6-9 September
Hamburg, Germany
Mets Trade
15- 17 November
Amsterdam
MEDICA 2022
14–17 November 2022
Düsseldorf, Germany
If you, or one of your team, will be at any of these shows and would like to discuss our IoT and global connectivity services in-person then please book a meeting.
