Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Global satellite communications provider NSSLGlobal signed a service provider agreement to offer Iridium Communications‘ Certus L-Band service as part of its maritime portfolio for recreational yachts, workboats, commercial fishing trawlers, and merchant vessels. NSSLGlobal will offer Iridium Certus as both a standalone L-Band service and as a preferred assurance offering in conjunction with its VSAT IP@SEA service, powered by the Cobham Sailor 4300 terminal.

NSSLGlobal said the service package will include a cruise control solution that aims to enable users to fully manage their operational and crew communications, as well as a suite of value added services including crew entertainment, on-board IT management, cyber security, and an integrated Internet Protocol (IP) Private Branch Exchange (PBX).

Certus is powered by Iridium’s $3 billion next-generation Iridium Next constellation of 66 Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Iridium said that Certus will initially offer speeds of up to 352 kilobits, increasing to 704 kilobits by early 2019. Iridium’s 8th and final Iridium Next launch is planned for later this year on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, when the last 10 satellites will be launched.