[Satellite TODAY 01-28-10] Harris Maritime Communications Services (Harris MCS) signed a multi-year agreement with Telesat to purchase Telstar 11N capacity over the Atlantic Ocean region, Telesat announced Jan. 27.
   Harris MCS will use the capacity to launch its next-generation IP voice, video and data service for the maritime market.  Harris MCS is landing the Telstar 11N service at their primary teleport in Melbourne, Fla. using a networking platform provided by iDirect. 
   “Our maritime customers, such as Carnival Corporation, expect a broadband service that provides passengers and crew with communications that are comparable to what they would experience on land. iDirect’s platform was part of the solution but we could not implement it for the Atlantic crossings without Telstar 11N’s superior Atlantic coverage combined with the satellite’s outstanding performance,” Harris MCS President Rick Simonian said in a statement.
   Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.