Inmarsat and Blue Maritime Cluster talk digital disruption

MARCH 28, 2017 — Over twenty partners in Norway’s Blue Maritime Cluster joined senior Inmarsat management for a digital disruption workshop in Ålesund, Norway, on March 21, to explore Inmarsat’s future bandwidth programs, encouraging third party innovators and disrupters to develop applications that can exploit the capability of high-speed broadband services available via Fleet Xpress.

Based in Norway’s Møre region, the Blue Maritime Cluster is recognised by government as a global center of expertise. Many of its marine technology suppliers are leading the drive to exploit shipboard sensors to monitor and manage equipment remotely.

“The global, high speed, always-on connectivity offered by Fleet Xpress has proved a game-changer in the 12 months since launch, with thousands of ships committed to its unrivalled Ka-band plus L-band for back-up combination,” said Gert-Jan Panken, VP Application Sales, Inmarsat Maritime. “Reaping the true data and performance rewards of the network requires both an advanced platform, industry focus, innovation and cooperation.”

Mr. Panken said Fleet Xpress would enable the maritime industry to join the connected world and leverage the more than 25 billion apps, embedded software packages or intelligent systems, which International Data Corporation (IDC) is projecting to be present by 2020.

“In Fleet Xpress, we have delivered a platform to create a new ecosystem for maritime solution providers and application developers to build new relationships that can disrupt the maritime industry,” he said.

“The Blue Maritime Cluster seeks to consolidate its role as a global hub for safe, sustainable, advanced and smart technology,” said Frank Støyva Emblem, Communications Manager, Blue Maritime Cluster. “The best way to embrace new generation connectivity is by working as a collective maritime force.”