Maritime connectivity is shifting decisively toward software-defined, cloud-based solutions as demand for seamless multi-orbit satellite access surges, according to industry experts
Speaking at an ST Engineering iDirect event held during Sea Asia 2025, presenters spoke of a watershed moment for the sector, marking its move away from hardware-heavy systems to smarter, more flexible approaches.
The merchant shipping sector continues to dominate as the financial powerhouse of satcom activity, according to head of mobility at iDirect, Chris Insall. Mr Insall emphasised its economic weight far surpasses other maritime segments such as cruise, which operates on a much smaller scale of vessels, albeit at far more concentrated levels of demand.
Innovation is the linchpin for meeting escalating connectivity demands, added Mr Insall, who foresees demand only moving in one direction despite the challenges posed by protectionist trade policies. “Historical trends reveal the long-term resilience of global trade volumes, which have consistently grown even through crises such as Covid-19 and previous global financial downturns.”
Warming to his theme, Mr Insall spotlighted transformative technologies reshaping maritime communications: high throughput satellites (HTS), investments in non-geostationary networks across GEO, HEO, MEO and LEO orbits, and advances in 5G non-terrestrial standards. iDirect’s collaboration with bodies like 3GPP (NTN Forum) and MEF underscores its commitment to driving these innovations, he said, before laying down the gauntlet for industry by asking, “Are you ready to embrace these technologies to meet the rising demand for modern connectivity?”
ST Engineering iDirect direct senior systems engineer Julian Chan expanded on this theme by introducing iDirect’s Intuition platform. Designed for seamless communications and 5G NTN, he said it reflects evolving customer expectations: from basic crew communication to full broadband access for social media, email and voice services. Mr Chan stressed the importance of cloud-enabled platforms and standardisation through protocols such as OpenAMIP and OpenBMIP, while highlighting lessons from past satellite constellations that failed due to insufficient ground infrastructure investment.
The Intuition platform’s architecture exemplifies iDirect’s forward-thinking approach, he added. It integrates advanced features like Layer 2/3 quality of service management, cloud-native monitoring systems, and an industry-first algorithm for seamless beam-switching between orbits. This ensures uninterrupted connectivity while offering deployment flexibility across on-premises and cloud environments.
Mr Chan also addressed practical challenges such as hardware compatibility. While some legacy terminals may be limited in supporting multi-orbit systems and next-generation functionality, newer models such as MDM3315 are designed for seamless integration into next-generation networks. This underscores the need for strategic equipment planning in maritime operations, he added.
“Ultimately, platforms like Intuition highlight the maritime sector’s shift toward agile, integrated solutions that align with an increasingly interconnected world. The challenge now lies in aligning operational strategies with these technological advancements to unlock their full potential,” he concluded.
