SES Networks revealed its plans for bettering the passenger expertise at a presentation held on-line on December 9, 2022.
SES is engaged on offering dependable connectivity by way of satellites and the corporate’s augmented Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) answer that gives quick, low latency connectivity.
The corporate is about to launch a brand new constellation of mPOWER satellites that can additional enhance the web on cruise ships.
“The passenger expertise in cruising could be very correlated to connectivity,” stated Greg Martin, vp of the maritime section at SES Networks.
“That has been a message obtained by SES cruise clients as we work immediately within the cruise trade with 5 of the highest six cruise operators. We ship dependable, quick high-bandwidth satellite tv for pc connectivity that are the important thing elements of that passenger expertise.”
Martin, who’s liable for creating connectivity options particular to the cruise section, additionally added that the reliability of connectivity can also be essential for the passenger expertise.
“We’ve acknowledged that the visitors can get the perfect expertise once they have an entirely personalised means to take a look at their complete trip from once they go away residence after they ebook the cruise to the airport to the ship, the embarkation course of, on the ship expertise and departing the ship and going again. And that comes finest with mainly staying linked to their family and friends, doubtlessly their work atmosphere and having the ability to share that family members that is probably not with them whereas they’re onboard. And that personalised expertise is essential to the whole cruise.”
Martin defined that bettering the passenger expertise isn’t just about Wi-Fi however a spread of good units and wearable units. The aim is to allow visitors to work together with the ships in a seamless course of together with touch-free buying, trade of data, and having the ability to find individuals on the ship and order meals and drinks.
“It goes with out saying that offering that have requires an amazing quantity of connectivity.”
Martin stated that delivering the correct amount of connectivity to the ships has been difficult however SES Networks has managed to create an answer that helps passengers’ wants for connectivity.
“Delivering quick low latency connectivity, which is what individuals anticipate and what individuals have once they’re off the ship is tougher. We’ve been capable of overcome that with our SES MEO answer and that MEO answer is unique within the cruise trade,” he stated.
“Our present era of MEO capabilities, which has been serving the cruise trade for years, is being augmented with 90 % extra capability with our new 03b mPOWER constellation which launches in December 2022.”
By way of the way forward for connectivity, Martin stated that cruise strains are shifting to a frictionless expertise onboard and increasing their connectivity to cowl the their out islands and ports.
Martin stated that the corporate is engaged on launching the most recent era of various bands of connectivity and an entire vary of kit capable of help not simply the connectivity wants of at the moment but additionally for the longer term.
On the way forward for the cruise expertise, Martin stated: “What I see is that individuals are going to demand that every one of their private preferences, wherever they’re situated on land, are replicated to the ship in order that they’re capable of have a protected and safe expertise but additionally that their profile and every little thing about them is carried out on the ship.”
Martin added that sooner or later, the purpose will likely be for visitors to have the identical expertise regardless of the place they’re, which is a straightforward, interactive and frictionless expertise.
He added that what’s additionally seen within the cruise expertise is a push for a extra eco-friendly atmosphere, which has been underway for a variety of years within the cruise trade.
