Additionally, KVH Industries, Inc. and On-Waves Ehf are partnering to make cell phone service at sea a reality for crew and passengers on vessels around the globe. Using KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband network and TracPhone V7 satellite communications system along with the On-Waves maritime cell phone service, crew members, passengers, and onboard contractors can easily and affordably use their own cell phones to make and receive calls to and from anywhere in the world. Cell phones alone usually lose reception about 15 miles offshore, when vessels travel outside the range of land-based cell towers. On-Waves’ maritime GSM service works by allowing any crew member, passenger, or contractor to purchase a dedicated SIM card, pop it into their cell phone, and use that phone on a moving ship, anywhere in the world, just as they would at home. For one low, fixed price per minute, they can call anywhere they like without paying additional long distance charges. For customers preferring to use their own cellular service companies, On-Waves has maritime roaming agreements with more than 450 GSM and CDMA service providers around the globe. The On-Waves equipment includes a picocell, a small piece of hardware mounted on the exterior of the ship, and compact belowdecks hardware used to transmit calls over the mini-VSAT Broadband network. The mini-VSAT Broadband service, along with the KVH TracPhone V7 antenna, comprise the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT antenna, service, and support package available for maritime communications.
Satnews Daily
October 7th, 2009
KVH Offers Heavyweight Lightweight For Marine SatTV + Partners Up With On-Waves Ehf
Additionally, KVH Industries, Inc. and On-Waves Ehf are partnering to make cell phone service at sea a reality for crew and passengers on vessels around the globe. Using KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband network and TracPhone V7 satellite communications system along with the On-Waves maritime cell phone service, crew members, passengers, and onboard contractors can easily and affordably use their own cell phones to make and receive calls to and from anywhere in the world. Cell phones alone usually lose reception about 15 miles offshore, when vessels travel outside the range of land-based cell towers. On-Waves’ maritime GSM service works by allowing any crew member, passenger, or contractor to purchase a dedicated SIM card, pop it into their cell phone, and use that phone on a moving ship, anywhere in the world, just as they would at home. For one low, fixed price per minute, they can call anywhere they like without paying additional long distance charges. For customers preferring to use their own cellular service companies, On-Waves has maritime roaming agreements with more than 450 GSM and CDMA service providers around the globe. The On-Waves equipment includes a picocell, a small piece of hardware mounted on the exterior of the ship, and compact belowdecks hardware used to transmit calls over the mini-VSAT Broadband network. The mini-VSAT Broadband service, along with the KVH TracPhone V7 antenna, comprise the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT antenna, service, and support package available for maritime communications.