The service uses Avanti’s dedicated Ka-band satellite capacity via HYLAS 4 and the iDirect X7 platform, enabling Woodsons to deliver connectivity solutions to Scottish passenger ferries. The partnership will support maritime communications such as high-speed onboard Wi-Fi for passengers, as well as enabling staff communications and accepting card and mobile payments.
The contract win for maritime communications further establishes Avanti within the mobility market. In 2017, Avanti announced its first mobility contract valued at $4.5m and has since proven its capabilities for the defence and security markets by providing Satellite on the Move communications.
Avanti Chief Sales Officer, Belinda Silous, said “This partnership further demonstrates Avanti’s capability within the mobility sector. We are delighted to partner with Woodsons, to provide fast and reliable satellite connectivity for maritime communications.”
Woodsons of Aberdeen Managing Director, Steven Wood, said “We are excited about the partnership with Avanti Communications Group plc. In the last year, this has enabled us to supply a new high-speed VSAT service on the ferries serving the Northern Isles. The new service, using Avanti’s Ka-band high throughput satellite (HTS), provides a significant increase in capacity for the ferries with fully scalable and dedicated bandwidth (BW) for both corporate operations and passengers."