Hughes Communications India’s headquarters. Photo: Hughes

Hughes Communications India, a majority-owned subsidiary of Hughes Network Systems, launched commercial maritime mobility services in India. HCIL was the first to receive a Flight and Maritime Connectivity (FMC) license in India, which permits the company to provide mobility services within 125 kilometers of the Indian coastline. Now, as the first to offer satellite maritime services in India, HCIL enables connectivity to vessels sailing in domestic waters — as well as internationally — through roaming partnerships with select maritime providers.

Until now, ships entering Indian territorial waters were required to shut down their VSAT connections; now, they can connect to HCIL’s Ku-band satellite network. This connectivity helps ensure that ships and their crews switch seamlessly to the HCIL network (much like terrestrial mobile roaming), with uninterrupted data and voice applications from the port of origin to the port of destination.

“Maritime operators in India — whether cruise lines, shipping companies or offshore oil operators — are eager to connect their vessels, crews and passengers with high-quality, satellite broadband – and we are ready to serve them today,” said Partho Banerjee, president and managing director, Hughes Communications India Ltd. “We estimate that more than 500 Indian vessels will use Indian maritime services in the next three years to stay connected. Two customers have already signed on for our maritime mobility service offering.”