Hurtigruten Expeditions has installed equipment on its fleet to connect with Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s Starlink low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications
The Norwegian owner is one of the first in the industry to complete a fleetwide installation of Starlink hardware as the cruise sector seeks solutions to provide high-speed communications to guests in polar regions.
Starlink’s LEO service is blended with communications from geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites and 4G/5G connectivity for Hurtigruten Expeditions’ high-demand passenger and crew applications.
Speedcast started testing and integrating the hardware March 2022 and expects the full roll-out of high-speed, low-latency connectivity to be completed by the end of October.
Starlink brings fast, reliable internet to its guests and crew, especially in the Arctic and Antarctic where ships operate outside GEO satellite coverage.
“We bring the world’s most innovative technologies on board our ships to further enhance the experience and day-to-day lives for our guests, crew, partners and the communities we visit,” said Hurtigruten Expeditions chief executive Asta Lassesen.
Three of Hurtigruten Expeditions’ vessels, with Starlink connectivity, will operate in Antarctica this season. SpaceX expects to add Antarctic maritime coverage to Starlink Q4 2022.
“Our partnership with Speedcast and fleetwide introduction of the new service not only puts us ahead of the rest of the cruise industry, it also puts us ahead of the technology,” said Mr Lassesen. “When Starlink introduces maritime coverage in Antarctica and the Arctic, we will be ready.”
Hurtigruten Expeditions offers free internet connectivity for guests and crew members during its voyages.
“The introduction of new technology makes it easier for everyone on board to remain connected with friends, family and loved ones, no matter where they are,” said Mr Lassesen. “We are leading by example and challenge all cruise lines to make internet free for crew members.”
Speedcast is one of the first to introduce Starlink connectivity in maritime as part of an overall managed service.
“With vessels operating in some of the most remote and spectacular areas of the world, Hurtigruten Expeditions is an ideal partner for introducing ground-breaking technology in the cruise industry,” said Speedcast chief executive Joe Spytek.
“Hurtigruten’s vessels sailing from more traditional GEO coverage areas into lower look-angle locations, such as Antarctica, Alaska, Greenland and the Chilean fjords, will be bolstered with this new LEO coverage, where available.”
