Delivering Quality of Experience for high bandwidth vessels and offshore installations is at the heart of Telenor Satellite’s drive to service the satellite communications needs of the growing European maritime market.

And while the cruise and ferry sectors look to recovery from the effects of the global pandemic, general maritime, offshore oil & gas and fishing sectors are upping their demand for high quality satcom services.

Since 2016, Telenor Satellite has provided a regional Ka-band VSAT service to maritime users over its THOR 7 satellite from its 1° West orbital location. It targets the North Sea, North Atlantic/ Norwegian Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea and the Mediterranean. THOR 7 is equipped with an HTS Ka-band payload, providing regional coverage with a favourable look angle over the main European shipping lanes. The satellite utilises relatively small spot beams, which provide unprecedented high-power performance for maritime applications.

Jan Hetland, Director of Data Services division at Telenor Satellite, said that thanks to Telenor Satellite’s partnership with ST Engineering, its offering of high throughput services is about to expand for ferries, cruise and OSVs in the summer of 2022. Currently available on Anker Ka-band, the Newtec Dialog® platform allows Telenor Satellite to offer services of up to 150/50Mbps.

He also added that the company’s recent decision to collaborate with XipLink Inc., the technology leader in Wireless Link Optimization, greatly enhances its Anker Managed Service offering. Xiplink’s Wireless Link Optimization capabilities will boost the customers’ quality of experience “through enhanced speed and reliability while also improving the economics/affordability of the Anker service connections”, he said.

Drawing on Telenor Satellite’s 14 years of partnership with iDirect and combining this with XipLink’s unique WAN optimization capabilities allows Telenor Satellite to serve the most demanding customers out there. The Xiplink WAN optimizer solution provides a greatly improved Quality of Experience for high-bandwidth vessels and offshore installations carrying large numbers of passengers and/or crew, Mr Hetland added.

Telenor Satellite’s portfolio of ‘Anker’ connectivity solutions is used in a variety of sectors, ranging from maritime mobility and oil and gas, to fixed land-based VSAT services. It’s pan European coverage up to 79° North is complemented with an extended coverage of the North Atlantic, Middle East, West Africa and the Caribbean.

XipLink™ is the leading independent global technology provider for Wireless Link Optimisation (WAN optimisation) solution using standards-based SCPS protocol acceleration, streaming data compression and Internet optimizations to deliver a better wireless experience over stressed communication links. XipLink™ is a privately-owned company with headquarters in Montreal, Quebec (Canada), integration facilities in Ashburn, Virginia (USA) and field personnel worldwide. www.xiplink.com

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering North America, is a global leader in satellite communications (satcom) providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their satcom networks. Through the merger with Newtec, a recognized industry pioneer, the combined business unites over 35 years of innovation focused on solving satellite’s most critical economic and technology challenges and expands a shared commitment to shaping the future of how the world connects. The product portfolio, branded under the names iDirect and Newtec, represents the highest standards in performance, efficiency and reliability, making it possible for its customers to deliver the best satcom connectivity experience anywhere in the world. ST Engineering iDirect is the world’s largest TDMA enterprise VSAT manufacturer and is the leader in key industries including broadcast, mobility and military/government. In 2007, iDirect Government was formed to better serve the U.S. government and defense communities. For more information on our platforms please visit www.idirect.net.

This represents the start of a new era for satellite communications, paving the way for a different approach to satellite servicing and life-extension possibilities.

The THOR 10-02 satellite, jointly owned with Intelsat (IS-10-02), was first launched in 2004 and remains in excellent health, continuing to carry thousands of vital communication links to vessels navigating across busy shipping lanes and operating in remote offshore fields, as well as delivering connectivity for broadcasting and land-based services in remote locations. The prospect of preserving the operation of these links made it an obvious choice for this pioneering technology, and the companies are the first commercial satellite operators to perform on-orbit servicing of an active satellite in geosynchronous orbit.

Morten Tengs, Telenor Satellite’s CEO, said: “This is a ground-breaking project and we are pleased to be a part of the success of this historic mission. Delivering exceptional satellite connectivity to our clients is our primary focus.”

Space Logistics (a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman) was contracted by our partner at 1° West, Intelsat, to deploy its Mission Extension Vehicle MEV-2 to prolong the operational life of THOR 10-02/ IS-10-02 as its on-board propellant was due to run out towards the end of 2021. The countdown started on August 15, 2020, when MEV-2 was launched from Kourou, French Guiana on board an Ariane 5 rocket.

Eight months after the launch, the docking procedure took place on 12 April, making history for satellite operations.

The MEV-2 satellite docked directly onto the communications satellite, effectively providing the space equivalent of a jetpack and so extending the operational life of THOR 10-02/IS-10-02. The MEV-2 has now taken over control of both the orbit and pointing of the satellite and will continue do so until the satellite is eventually retired in approximately five years’ time.

Space Logistics (a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman) was contracted to deploy its Mission Extension Vehicle MEV-2 to prolong the operational life of THOR 10-02/ Intelsat 10-02 for up to five years.

The successful launch of MEV-2 from Kourou, French Guiana on 15 August started the countdown to its arrival in geostationary orbit. It was launched on board an Ariane 5 rocket and is scheduled to dock with THOR 10-02/ Intelsat 10-02 in early 2021. The docking procedure will occur while the satellite remains fully operational, ensuring minimal disruption to service.

THOR 10-02/ Intelsat 10-02 was launched in 2004 and is still in excellent health. It carries thousands of valuable communication links, including broadcasting, maritime connectivity and land-based services, making crucial communications possible in inaccessible and remote locations. Without intervention, the life-limiting factor for the satellite would have been the amount of on-board propellant which is scheduled to run out towards the end of 2021.

Ensuring continuity of service for customers is of primary importance to Telenor Satellite, and this will be achieved through a safe rendezvous and docking operation. To be certain that this manoeuvre can be successfully accomplished, the MEV service was successfully validated on a ground-breaking precursor mission (MEV-1), which returned Intelsat’s IS-901 from outside of the geosynchronous orbit back into service in March 2020.

As part of the life extension procedure, the MEV-2 satellite will be docked onto the communications satellite while in full operation, effectively providing the space equivalent of a jetpack and so extending the life of THOR 10-02/ Intelsat 10-02. When properly docked, the MEV-2 satellite will take over control of both the orbit and pointing of THOR 10-02/ Intelsat 10-02.

Morten Tengs, CEO of Telenor Satellite, said: “We have great confidence in the MEV-2 mission and look forward to the continued service of THOR 10-02 for the benefit of our customers across Europe and the Middle East. THOR 10-02 carries thousands of valuable communication links, including broadcasting and maritime connectivity and, for those living in remote and inaccessible sites, makes possible and maintains, crucial communications. By employing this ground-breaking advancement to replenish the longevity of a high-quality satellite in excellent health, we are able to ensure a hassle-free continued operation for our customers,” Mr Tengs added.