[Satellite Today – 3-19-08] SingTel is launching a new global maritime satellite broadband service, the company announced March 19.
    SingTel, which has been providing VSAT services with regional coverage for more than two years, will extend the reach of its service to cover all major shipping routes around the globe through strategic alliances with global satellite service providers. The new service offers customers secure connectivity to offices on land over a private terrestrial network and is integrated with SingTel’s ConnectPlus Internet Protocol–Virtual Private Network.
    “In the past, VSAT deployments onboard vessels such as container ships required time-consuming reconfigurations of the satellite communications equipment when the vessels move from one ocean region to another,” Bill Chang, SingTel’s executive vice president for business, aid in a statement. “SingTel’s global maritime VSAT service has advanced auto-beam switching capability, which eliminates the need for manual intervention. This helps shipping owners save valuable time and resources.”
    Singtel claims it will be the first satellite service provider in Asia to offer global maritime service.