Bangkok--21 May--Thaicom
IPSTAR Japan Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thaicom Public Company Limited, announced the launch of a low-cost maritime broadband service for vessels. Tokyo based shipping company Ocean Trans Co. is one of the first customers using the end-to-end service. The company selected IPSTAR broadband service to provide its crew with reliable and cost-effective access to email and the Internet, thus boosting crew morale and productivity while at sea. IPSTAR Maritime Broadband enhances operational efficiency across fleets and supports the growing demand for cost-effective crew welfare services.
With IPSTAR Maritime Broadband service, crews can call home or access broadband Internet to send emails, share photos and access social networks without interrupting operational communications. Target users are long-distance ferries and merchant vessels. IPSTAR Maritime Broadband service will be introduced in other markets in Asia Pacific as well.
Thaicom Chairman of the Executive Committee and CEO, Suphajee Suthumpun, commented, “We are pleased that Ocean Trans, one of our Japanese clients, is introducing IPSTAR Broadband Satellite on board its fleet of vessels for the provision of broadband Internet and IP based applications to their crews. Once again we deliver on our promise of removing distance barriers and continue our aggressive market expansion with integrated end-to-end satellite communication services. IPSTAR’s unique value proposition of cost-effectiveness and widespread availability across Asia Pacific makes it a natural choice for shipping companies. It is another pride that Thailand’s satellite has been continually recognized and trusted by leading countries like Japan and more, which would help adding economic value and bringing more income to the country.”
At the launch of the service, Mr. Takahiro Akaishi, Executive Officer of Ocean Trans Co., Ltd., said, “We have previously considered the introduction of satellite communication based services for the welfare of our crews who stay on board for long periods of time. But the investment costs and monthly fees were prohibitively expensive. The IPSTAR Maritime service is very cost-effective and we are now considering its introduction on all vessels of our fleet scheduled to be completed by 2016.”
In Japan, the initial cost for IPSTAR Maritime Broadband service—available on an end-to-end basis—starts from \5,000,000 (approx USD 50,000). The service covers the equipment and the installation, with monthly service fees from \30,000 (approx USD300) to \50,000 (approx USD500), and speeds of up to 4Mbps/2Mbps.
IPSTAR provides backhaul services for cellular base stations to some of Japan’s largest telecom operators. IPSTAR supported a number of communication networks in the aftermath and disaster recovery efforts of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.