While marine satellite internet cafes on cruise ships have typically been unwieldy and expensive to set up, the
RedPort router system with PBX offers marine satellite internet solutions in a box at a fraction of the cost. This blog will examine case studies of a cruise ship and large ferry that demonstrate the RedPort router system is both profitable and efficient for passenger internet cafe services in remote locations.
On the MS Expedition in the Antarctic, passengers were busy sending emails at the onboard internet cafe to tell friends and family of their day's adventures.
Background
Marine satellite internet cybercafes on cruise ships have typically been dominated by the big marine telcos like MTN and Marlink.
These telcos make available plastic scratch cards with a user ID and passwords randomly generated. Guests are allocated a certain time limit to browse. The cybercafe front end is typically via a captive portal that forces the web browser to a landing page where the user must authenticate before gaining access to the Internet.
The equipment is large and expensive utilizing Nomadix style captive portal units, Riverbed compression devices both on the ship and the land and a Cisco router to provide front end connectivity and IP based security. The landing pages are typically branded with the logo of the Telco.
Although the system works reasonably well there are several detracting factors. First, the equipment is extremely expensive. In order to justify the costs the licensing of the service from the telco is fierce. The ship is usually required to share revenue with the telco on a 50/50 basis however the telco typically covers the investment of the equipment and recoups it over the airtime contract period.
Second problem is by selling the service by the minute and not restricting concurrent logons the service becomes unwieldy with more people connected. This boosts profit for the ship as the slower the Internet the more profitable it becomes; however, there is a low tolerance threshold from passengers where they stop using it all together if it becomes too slow.
RedPort provides a solution in one box that replaces all the above equipment and includes a fully functional PBX at a fraction of the cost of mainstream hardware.
The cybercafe can be deployed quickly and fixed price service contracts provide a revenue stream for the ship that is not shared with anyone else.
Although time-based charging is available, with the byte sensitive hardware used by smaller ships it becomes a lot more practical to meter usage by the byte. This is very popular with experienced users and provides a fair billing system allowing efficient webmail clients to stay on line a long time without penalizing their low usage the way a time-based solution does.
The landing page can easily be customized to the logo of the cruise or tour company.
The RedPort solution also provides a local webmail solution so the passenger can elect to have an Email only account and not have to use Internet at all. Billing software can charge by the byte sent and received and is tailored to the cruise operators requirement.
RedPort also provides all the compression services over HTTP that the Riverbed does and combined with an onboard proxy server provides very efficient caching and distribution on web page data. It is customized to several levels of compression so the ship can decide on the level of graphics quality vs bandwidth cost.
Case Study A: 100 Passenger cruise ship operating via MTN, VSAT and Iridium
This ship has many roles – it operates in high latitudes for adventure tourism and also has served as a floating hotel in the Irish Sea servicing wind turbine farms.
In High latitude mode the ship is running 256 kbps up and down VSAT over C band. With the RedPort technology it can support in excess of 50 logons as well as running the ship's business.
Pax and Ship are on separate subnets and all browsing is filtered and compressed. General rules for both subnets filter nuisance web pages and popups. Crew browsing is more restricted blocking all service ports and forcing all Internet through the captive portal. This completely eliminates peer to peer processes like Skype and malware from occupying bandwidth. Numeric IP is banned by the Proxy server making the blocking of undesirable services very effective.
Logging of the proxy server by IP address shows any user who is abusing the service and blocking by website or web keyword is possible.
Pax paying by the byte have wide open access and most of the restrictions are lifted. Their IP address is dynamic and they have a lot more privacy.
When the ship is in work mode the bandwidth is opened up to 4 mb and the captive portal turned off. Here we can expect 100+ simultaneous connects. The bottleneck here oddly enough is the upstream off site compression. Compression allows more data to be transferred per user but we do notice a drop in performance if only when one or two users are on and we cannot get the full 4 mb bandwidth. This can be turned off and we get faster download but degraded overall throughput.
In all cases we can quickly identify IP addresses that are consistantly abusing the system. In this ship for instance, we identified 80% of the traffic initially was pornography download. With the logging we could quickly identify sites and file types and move to block this activity.
Case Study B: 2000 Passenger High Speed Ferry.
The ferry runs daily service with passage time of around 3 hours across a river estuary. Internet was installed to provide free service to passengers and be used as a sales tool to encourage regular commuters to use the ship service rather than the much faster plane service.
Here we had a 500 kbps link bursting to 1 mb via VSAT over Ku Band. Several PC solutions had been tried but all proved unreliable.
On this ship we had a captive portal activated with an open Logon so the passengers were forced to the Ship branded landing page before they could browse. We could limit the maximum bandwidth to 100 k per passenger so one person could not hog the system.
Here the system would cope easily with 200 or more devices connected and, thanks to the captive portal mobile devices, could not consume bandwidth unless the user specifically passed the simple authentication process.
We would see typically over 1000 new IP addresses handed out over a day with up to 400 unique connections to the captive portal.
The system was very reliable and the only outages were due to satellite equipment failure after a 3 week initial trial period.
The Ferry company is very happy with the service; as the reliability becomes well known, passengers start to take the ship in preference to the plane.
The Operating company has ordered the same system for all their other ships.
Conclusion
RedPort provides a proven, cost effective and customizable solution that meets a variety of needs and can safely be deployed in the most demanding of environments.
Submitted and written by:
Jonathan Selby
GMN Systems Integrator SkyEye Systems Ltd New Zealand
Contact info@redportglobal.com for more information.
New position to accelerate continued growth in satellite service provider and commercial marine markets.
Maryville, TN (PRWEB) July 25, 2012
Global Marine Networks (GMN), the leader in advancing satellite data speeds and services, today announced the appointment of Peter Liberi Consulting to help meet continued demand for growth from GMN distributors and the commercial marine customers who rely on GMN and RedPort Global satellite VoIP and data routers.
“We are pleased to work directly with Peter Liberi to help grow the GMN and RedPort business,” said John Dark, V.P. of Sales and Marketing for Global Marine Networks and RedPort Global. “This appointment shows our ongoing commitment to satellite service providers and commercial marine customers alike. Peter is well known and highly respected in the mobile satellite services community. Thanks to his background building sales organizations and delivering world-class sales support teams, we anticipate even greater growth in our business.”
Peter Liberi brings over 20 years of satellite industry experience to the organization, having held positions as VP of Sales at various global satellite service providers.
“I have always been impressed with the GMN commitment to serve their client’s needs and to do things the right way. The GMN reputation for leading edge satellite data services is outstanding,” said Liberi. “I look forward to working with the GMN team to help the company expand their presence by working with customers to obtain solutions that are right for them.”
In 2011, GMN launched the RedPort Global brand of satellite VoIP and data routers, offering complete satellite network management systems. With over 1500 units sold, RedPort routers have become the de facto standard for satellite data compression, satellite VoIP and overall satellite network management services.
About Global Marine Networks, LLC
Global Marine Networks (GMN), the leaders in advancing satellite data speeds and services, helps Fixed and Mobile Satellite Services providers and their customers by offering the industry’s fastest, most reliable and easy-to-use E-mail, web, and other hardware and software services to maritime, oil and gas, first responder and business continuity users. The company’s products include XGate high-speed satellite email, WeatherNet weather and oceanographic data software, and vessel tracking systems. Ship to shore network management solutions are sold by GMN under the RedPort Global brand name at http://www.redportglobal.com and as white-label solutions for the world’s premier satellite data service providers.
GMN has numerous awards and certifications for technical innovation and holds pending patents on its products. For more information on how GMN is Making Airtime Count™ - whether ship to shore, or in remote or emergency communications environments visit http://www.globalmarinenet.com.
FleetBroadband coverage stops at 74 degrees as publicized by Inmarsat. During the Arctic cruising season around Svalbard for 2012 we had the opportunity to observe the performance of several ships using FleetBroadband 500 technology and determine that the performance was more than adequate to allow usage and the quality was good enough to offer Internet to paying passengers without affecting ship business. Operating costs were considerably less than VSAT.
With Inmarsat announcing their Very Large Allowance plans over fleet broadband we have a very attractive alternative to VSAT on smaller vessels. This paper deals with performance at extremely high latitudes well out of the published satellite footprint. We also deal with some of the technical problems encountered to produce a cost effective and reliable system providing essential services even when the satellite is not visible.
As with any solution there is a certain integration of existing technology needed while still retaining some plug and play functionality.
In order to integrate a reliable system we need a router capable of meeting the stringent filtering requirements mandated by Inmarsat and also being able to manage the traffic so we do not go out of plan. The router also has to be able to provide compression, automatic fail-over and also provide a passenger billing system that is flexible.
The GMN RedPort professional router series provides a scalable solution that meets all the above requirements and replaces 3 expensive components in a standard VSAT rack (Nomadix, Riverbed and Cisco router) with a rugged reliable unit.
When system was up we were able to offer passengers and crew – metered Internet access at US $0.23 cents per megabyte cost to the ship and satellite VOIP Phone services to the ship and a cost price of US $0.16 cents calling to any US land line.
Testing Conditions
These tests were done with three ships. Two were running FB500 VLA and one was running VSAT C Band system with a Seatel dome. We use the C Band data for uptime comparison only.
System was placed on three vessels operating around Spitsbergen and the uptime and quality of service monitored closely. The satellite elevation varied between 1 and 3 degrees however whenever there was a clear line of sight we had solid coverage.
Typically a vessel would go close to land to drop passengers off for shore excursions. At this time we would lose signal due to the proximity of the terrain. Passengers experienced little inconvenience though as they were engaged with shore activities.
Ship Email was still vital at this time however the router would detect the non connectivity and automatically fail over to Iridium Open Port.
Mail was totally seamless and would seek the least cost path to work on.
In Longyearbyen where cell coverage was good we could connect to the cellular network and replace the FB500 link with a 3G router.
Email:
Satellite email is sent of the GMN Xgate network. This provides a reliable robust pipe with mid stream recovery and perfect for scenarios where the comms are less than ideal. This is currently working via standalone servers however GMN will shortly be implementing this technology inside the RedPort box itself.
Quality of service – In practical terms the higher the latitude the slower the speed, We were seeing reliable transfer rates of 120 – 150 kbps. With traffic shaping we could ensure very good voice quality over IP – Better than Iridium Open Port at a fraction of the cost.
VLA Test 1 Performance over 10 days
This shows vessel track and the percentage uptime per day:
Last Column shows uptime percentage by day
06-20-2012 43.5500 %
06-21-2012 50.0000 %
06-22-2012 37.7000 %
06-23-2012 77.9400 %
06-24-2012 30.5100 %
06-25-2012 40.9800 %
06-26-2012 12.2800 %
06-27-2012 69.7000 %
06-28-2012 69.7000 %
06-29-2012 58.7302 %
06-30-2012 92.5926 %
In Summary FB500 VLA plans provide a cost effective alternative to VSAT at high latitudes.
Both VLA ships had no on board IT officer and what little systems maintenance that was needed could be carried out from shore.
Hardware runs maintenance free so there is no costly semi-annual technician visit.
Jonathan Selby
Xaxero Marine Software
jon@xaxero.com
Copyright 2012 Creative Commons License
Please leave comments below. Thank you.
Posted by
John Dark on Tue, Feb 28, 2012 @ 04:27 PM
Marine Satellite Communications
Marine communications are more important than ever, but the solutions that work on land don't work at sea. Fortunately, we live in an era when satellite communications are the answer for everyone from the most casual boater to the most sophisticated cruise ships.
Everyone from recreational boaters to megayacht owners to commercial fishing and marine transport companies need reliable communications on the water. Cellular services work only a few miles offshore, and are completely unavailable in most coastal regions. VHF radios are required for communicating with other nearby boaters, but aren't really options for ship to shore communications. Satellite communications provide the coverage that boaters need, and have grown to offer services that rival land-based communications.
Marine Satellite Communications History
The industry started with the founding in 1979 of the International Maritime Satelite Organization (Inmarsat) as a not-for-profit international organization, set up at the behest of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN body, for the purpose of establishing a satellite communications network for the maritime community. In the subsequent years, Inmarsat has been privatized, many other companies have launched commercial efforts for large vessels with C-band and other satellite technologies throughout the eighties and early nineties, and new Low-earth Orbit providers Iridium and Globalstar introduced services in 1999 and 2000 respectively.
Marine Satellite Communications Services
Marine satellite communications services cover the entire gamut of communications, but there are key areas that customers need depending on their situation. Common services include voice calling, data services for satellite email and Internet Access, and weather and oceanographic data access for navigation and fishing. Many vessels also use satellite vessel tracking services in order to keep shoreside operations apprised of their location. Distress alerting has also been one of the driving forces in satellite adoption on the water, with GMDSS services, Personal Locator Beacons, and more recently Satelite Emergency Notification Devices like SPOT and Delorme Inreach.
Marine Satellite Voice Communications
Voice calling keeps recreational vessels in touch with family, friends and businesses back home; commercial vessels use voice calling for ship operations and crew morale. Voice service is available from Inmarsat and Iridium.
Marine Satellite Phone Email Service
One of the most efficient ways to communicate on the water is through satellite phone email. However, because satellite data services are either much slower or more expensive (or both) than land-based data service, specialized satellite email service is required to have the best experience. Satellite phone email service can provide up to 20 times faster service than using uncompressed service, and in many cases can make the difference in whether email service can be used over satellite data at all. Satellite email services also allows boaters to send a single message to a virtually unlimited number of recipients with the press of a single button. Additionally, satellite phone email service can be used for related services such as retrieving GRIB files, posting GPS locations, or updating blogs and social media sites.
Many vessels are now deploying (Voice over IP) satellite VoIP services to take advantage of the lower data rates. This solution requires using VoIP service that is specifically designed for satellite. Buyers should look for a VoIP service that uses no more than 1MB per 20 minutes of talk time, as this will give the best payback, and can reduce voice per-minute pricing by more than 50% compared to standard voice service. Satellite VoIP service also makes crew calling easier because cards can be sold on a prepaid basis independent of a satellite service provider.
Marine Satellite Internet Service
Marine satellite Internet access is available at a number of different speeds and prices.
For limited browsing, many boaters find that a setup as simple as an Iridium satellite phone with its 2.4 kbps uncompressed data feed will work to browse mobile sites and get weather data when used with specialized satellite weather software.
Newer satellite broadband services are available such as Iridium OpenPort and Inmarsat FleetBroadband that can provide an experience similar to DSL/Cable service when used with satellite compression software. However, many satellite broadband users have run into "bill shock" after inadvertently downloading megabytes of unwanted data such as windows updates or Skype sessions when they connected their computer to an open satellite broadband line with no firewall in place. Satellite firewall routers are critical in any satellite broadband installation to ensure maximum speed and block unwanted traffic.
At the most sophisticated end are VSAT installations and Inmarsat FleetBroadband VLA services that can provide very high speed access, generally at prices that make sense for commercial ship operations or for megayacht owners. These services also rely on satellite network management routers and services to manage crew and passenger prepaid voice and data access, as well as complex ships operations. An effective router can reduce bandwidth dramatically through compression and blocking unwanted data-hogging sites and services.
Conclusion
In summary, there is a maritime satellite communications service for everybody who spends time on the water. Care must be taken to select services and equipment that is developed specifically for satellite to get the best pricing and experience. The best way to do this is to consult with an experienced satellite communications specialist.
Posted by
John Dark on Wed, Nov 30, 2011 @ 01:27 AM
– Global Marine Networks (GMN), the leaders in advancing satellite data speed and services, was named Most Successful Solution Developer of 2011 by Inmarsat
in recognition of its satellite data hardware and service solutions for Inmarsat. In 2011, GMN has launched both XGate satellite email for Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro service, and RedPort Global vessel network manager services for Inmarsat Fleet Broadband and BGAN. XGate is a software application that keeps families and work groups in touch over satellite phone data services through email and web acceleration, one-touch blogging, and GPS vessel tracking, all optimized for use with narrowband satellite phone data service. GMN worked closely with Inmarsat to make XGate satellite email and web service available for the IsatPhone Pro concurrent with the launch of IsatPhone Pro data service. GMN XGate established the independent Inmarsat speed benchmark for IsatPhone Pro data service.
RedPort Global is a complete suite of satellite network management solutions. The RedPort wXa routers are Inmarsat-certified for use with Inmarsat VLA accounts for Fleet Broadband service. With RedPort Global, Fleet Broadband and other IP-based data users can save up to 80% on their satellite airtime usage while generating new revenue streams through a host of features including:
- Prepaid VoIP voice service giving up to 25 minutes of talk time from each megabyte of data
- Prepaid email and Internet services for crew morale, passenger sales, or ship’s operations
- Data compression, caching and control
- Least-cost routing, failover and load-balancing
- Firewall filtering by MAC or TCP/IP address and/or port number provide advanced controls as well as Skype and Adobe Flash blocking
- On-board management – Access and control a ship’s IT network as if on the ship.
- Weather and Oceanographic data
As an independent solutions provider, GMN works directly with Inmarsat Service Providers (SPs) and Distribution Providers (DPs) to help them offer their customers best-in-class voice and data services.
About Global Marine Networks, LLCGlobal Marine Networks (GMN), the leaders in advancing satellite data speeds and services, helps Fixed and Mobile Satellite Services providers and their customers by offering the industry’s fastest, most reliable and easy-to-use email, web, and other hardware and software services to maritime, oil and gas, first responder and business continuity users. The company’s products include XGate high-speed satellite email, WeatherNet weather and oceanographic data software, and vessel tracking systems. Ship to shore network management solutions are sold by GMN under the RedPort Global brand name at www.
redportglobal.com and as white-label solutions for the world’s premier satellite data service providers.
GMN has numerous awards and certifications for technical innovation and holds pending patents on its products. For more information on how GMN is Making Airtime Count™ - whether ship to shore, or in remote or emergency communications environments visit www.globalmarinenet.com.
###
Posted by
John Dark on Wed, Nov 30, 2011 @ 01:23 AM
Complete solution of satellite routers and software saves up to 80% on satellite airtime rates while offering VOIP, Prepaid Crew and Passenger Voice and Data Access and Onboard IT Management MARYVILLE, TN NOVEMBER 29, 2011 – Global Marine Networks (GMN), the leaders in advancing satellite data speed and services, today announced the launch of RedPort Global, a satellite network management solution suite for
maritime and offshore satellite broadband users and distributors. RedPort Global offers an array of satellite voice and data services that will save up to 80% of satellite airtime while giving more utility for any maritime satellite voice or data user. “GMN has long been a leader in satellite data services,” said Dr. Luis Soltero, President and CTO of GMN. “Now, with the launch of RedPort Global, we are offering satellite broadband users important new data services while building on the foundation of our popular webXaccelerator satellite routers and XGate satellite data products.” RedPort Global is a complete suite of satellite network management solutions that can save customers up to 80% on their satellite airtime fees while generating new revenue streams through a host of features including:
- Prepaid VoIP voice service giving up to 25 minutes of talk time from each megabyte of data
- Prepaid email and Internet services for crew morale, passenger sales, or ship’s operations
- Data compression, caching and control
- Least-cost routing, failover and load-balancing
- Firewall filtering by MAC or TCP/IP address and/or port number provide advanced controls as well as Skype and Adobe Flash blocking
- On-board management – Access and control a ship’s IT network as if on the ship.
- Weather and Oceanographic data
RedPort Global services work together with GMN webXaccelerator (wXa) satellite routers. Concurrent with the launch of RedPort Global services, GMN is launching 2 new wXa satellite routers. The original webXaccelerator satellite router was launched in October, 2010, to give users of satellite data systems unprecedented control of their installations, while providing firewall, compression and caching service. GMN has received orders for over 700 webXaccelerator satellite routers.
By launching RedPort Global, GMN is offering new services including prepaid VOIP calling for passengers and crew morale, and email and web access for Apple iOS products including the iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone products via Wi-Fi when used with the award-winning XGate satellite phone email acceleration service.
A new web site featuring RedPort Global services and wXa routers is available at http://www.redportglobal.com.
Availability and Launch Partners The GMN webXaccelerator wall-mount, rack-mount and wifi versions are available to the public through Global Marine Networks Channel Partners, as found on the company’s web site at
http://www.redportglobal.com . At launch, RedPort Global distributors include GMPCS Personal Communications, OCENS Satellite Systems, MVS and Evosat.
CompatibilityRedPort Global services are designed to work with every major satellite data service, purchased from any satellite service provider, including VSAT, Inmarsat Fleet Broadband and BGAN, Iridium OpenPort, Thuraya IP, or any IP-based connection. RedPort Services running on the GMN webXaccelerator are certified for use with Iridium OpenPort and Inmarsat Fleet Broadband services, and Inmarsat VLA pricing plans.
Select services also work with narrowband satellite services including Globalstar and Iridium data service.
About Global Marine Networks, LLCGlobal Marine Networks (GMN), the leaders in advancing satellite data speeds and services, helps Fixed and Mobile Satellite Services providers and their customers by offering the industry’s fastest, most reliable and easy-to-use E-mail, web, and other hardware and software services to maritime, oil and gas, first responder and business continuity users. The company’s products include XGate high-speed satellite email, WeatherNet weather and oceanographic data software, and vessel tracking systems. Ship to shore network management solutions are sold by GMN under the RedPort Global and brand names and as white-label solutions for the world’s premier satellite data service providers.
GMN has numerous awards and certifications for technical innovation and holds pending patents on its products. For more information on how GMN is Making Airtime Count™ - whether ship to shore, or in remote or emergency communications environments visit www.globalmarinenet.com.
###
Posted by
John Dark on Wed, Aug 10, 2011 @ 05:07 AM
Dispatch from GMN Labs:
- Satellite Router for VSAT Inmarsat Fleet Broadband and Iridium OpenPort
GMN developing VOIP services for the webXaccelerator satellite router
Sometimes the future comes in tantalizing little tastes. I find this is particularly true when it comes to telecom product development. So it seemed fairly matter of course when my phone rang today. Turns out though that it was the first call using VOIP with the GMN webXaccelerator?
satellite router. While VOIP is hardly a new technology anymore, being able to make VOIP calls using the narrow bandwidth required to make it commercially viable over an?
Inmarsat Fleet Broadband system, or even VSAT system, took more than a little magic. There are several that do this, few that do it well.
Not only is the call quality excellent, but the webXaccelerator will likely represent a breakthrough on price as well - the amount of data that it looks like we'll be using is many multiples less than the existing solutions - that means a lot more conversation for your money when using Fleet Broadband, and likely means that customers can reduce their price plans when using VSAT.
The webXaccelerator is a complete satellite router, designed for VSAT and other satellite broadband installations, that lets IT managers easily configure and remotely manage the following applications:
- Create a satellite Internet caf?
- Set user-defined Access Codes to generate new revenue or control shared usage for clients, crew or passengers
- Solve installation challenges through load-balancing and on-the-fly failover with any satellite or wireless data feed
- Simplified least-cost routing
Best of all, it's reliable and affordable.
Adding VOIP services is something that has been in our product roadmap for sometime. VOIP over broadband is easy. VOIP over "satellite broadband" is another matter. We have a ways to go to commercialize the service - sorry, no pricing announced yet. But those who read about the webXaccelerator when it was?
announced last October will be pleased to hear that more good work is on the way.
Sometime ago, some nice product marketing manager got a call from an engineer announcing the first successful text message. Now, billions of dollars are spent by consumers sending messages over basically free bandwidth to the carriers - text messaging was a game changer, and one that initially came with little fanfare in offices of a wireless telco. Somehow, more than a little of that feeling of the future came to me today with that modest call announcing the first VOIP call.
- John Dark