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FleetBroadband is maritimesatellite internet,telephony,SMS texting, andISDN network forocean-going vessels using portable domed terminalantennas.
These antennas and corresponding indoor controllers are used to connect phones and laptop computers from sailing vessels to the Internet. All antennas requireline-of-sight (LOS) to one of threegeosynchronous orbit satellites, thus allowing the terminal to be used on land as well.
The FleetBroadband network was developed byInmarsat and is composed of threegeosynchronous orbiting satellites known asI-4s that allow contiguous global coverage, except for the poles.[1] FleetBroadband systems installed on vessels may travel from ocean to ocean without human interaction. Line-of-sight to theI-4 satellites is required for connectivity, which can be achieved even in rough rolling seas. Since the FleetBroadband network uses theL band, it is more resistant to rain fade than VSATKu band orC Band systems.
The FleetBroadband service was modeled after terrestrial Internet services whereIP (Internet Protocol)-based traffic dominated overISDN and other earlier communication protocols.
There are three-terminal antenna types available: The FB150 antenna (291 × 275 mm), commercially launched in 2009, is capable of 150 kbit/s, the FB250 antenna (329 × 276 mm) is capable of 284 kbit/s, the FB500 antenna (605 × 630 mm) capable of up to 432 kbit/s. The latter two commercially launched in 2007. Current manufacturers of FleetBroadband systems include Thrane & Thrane (Sailor Systems), Wideye (Skipper), KVH, and JRC.
