23/06/2009
The first European presentation for the commercial launch of «FleetBroadband 150», the new Inmarsat’s satellite system was held in Athens with great success. The event was organized by Otesat-Maritel in cooperation with A.M.M.I.TE.C. the association of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) Managers of the Greek shipping companies.
The FleetBroadband 150 launch was the first of a series of events that Otesat-Maritel is planning to organize world wide. The second event will be held in Hamburg, on July 1st in order to introduce to the German Maritime Industry the latest satellite and maritime communications developments.
FleetBroadband 150 was commercially released by Inmarsat in the middle of May, and constitutes the youngest member of the Inmarsat FleetBroadband Family. Even though it is small in size, (only 27cm in diameter, 26,3 cm height and 4 kg weight antenna), the FB150 offers to the maritime market high quality satellite services with global coverage.
Mr. George Polychronopoulos, C.E.O. of Otesat-Maritel started the event by welcoming the members of the shipping companies and the partners, while some opening remarks were made by Mr. Tasos Makris, on behalf of A.M.M.I.TE.C and Mr. Piers Cunningham, Maritime Business Director of Inmarsat.
During the event, Otesat-Maritel presented the technical solutions and infrastructure that are available in order to provide Inmarsat FleetBroadband services and Value Added Services via the network that Otesat-Maritel has developed in co-operation with Inmarsat.
Mr. Jan Michelsen, International Account Manager of Thrane & Thrane, the manufacturing company of the only commercially available up-to-date equipment Sailor FB150, presented the terminal’s capabilities, while Mr. Achilleas Choursoglou, I.T. Manager of the shipping company Olympic Shipping, referred to the positive results they had from the use on a test basis of the FleetBroadband system at their company.
The FleetBroadband 150 launch was completed with a demonstration of the terminal equipment in «live» connection, giving the opportunity to the members of the shipping companies to use the services that the system has to offer and to evaluate its potentials and quality.
«Otesat-Maritel is increasing its efforts to provide total, qualitative and reliable satellite telecommunications solutions to the global maritime industry by adding in its portfolio a really useful and operational tool, FleetBroadband 150», stated Mr. Giorgos Polychronopoulos, C.E.O. of Otesat-Maritel.
«We are entering an era where the developments in maritime telecommunications are evolving rapidly. Giving the opportunity to the people in the shipping industry to be up-to-date with the latest developments in the satellite and maritime communications is as we all know more than essential and is what we all tried to give to everyone with this event today», stated the representative of A.M.M.I.TE.C., Mr. Tasos Makris.
Inmarsat’s Director of Maritime Business, Piers Cunningham, commented at the launch: «With this third FleetBroadband service we are delivering the Mini M of the 21st century».
In the photo (from left to right) Mr. Piers Cunningham - Inmarsat's Maritime Business Director, Mr. Kyle Hurst - Inmarsat's Maritime Market Manager, Mr. Tasos Makris - A.M.M.I.TE.C. Representative, Mr. Ioannis Birgalias - Otesat-Maritel's Marketing Manager, Mr. Achilleas Choursoglou - Olympic Shipping's I.T. Manager, Mr. Vassilis Mavrofridis - Otesat-Maritel's Sales Manager, Mr. George Polychronopoulos - Otesat-Maritel's C.E.O. and Mr. Dan Hodges - Inmarsat's International Account Manager.