[SatNews] iDirect has announced that three leading manufacturers of stabilized marine VSAT antennas – Sea Tel, Intellian and Jotron – have implemented the OpenAMIP protocol developed by iDirect and have completed successful interoperability testing with iDirect’s suite of broadband satellite routers.

Nine additional antenna manufacturers are in the process of implementing the OpenAMIP protocol and working with iDirect to qualify that their systems are interoperable. iDirect developed the OpenAMIP protocol more than four years ago as an industry-wide, open-source standard for antenna-router integration after extensive work was undertaken between iDirect and several leading stabilized antenna manufacturers to make their systems interoperate. iDirect has since integrated the open-source code into its maritime VSAT platform and has now established a formalized qualification program for satellite antenna manufacturers. The OpenAMIP protocol eliminates the need for proprietary coding to make new antennas or routers introduced into the market work together. Plus, it allows maritime organizations to choose from a wider selection of hardware to best suit their needs. OpenAMIP is IP-based protocol that facilitates the exchange of information between an Antenna Controller Unit and a satellite router that allows the router to command the antenna and enables the use of Automatic Beam Switching, which transfers connectivity from one satellite beam to the next as a vessel passes through multiple footprints. In addition, OpenAMIP enables service providers and their customers to meet government regulations by commanding the antenna to mute the signal in no-transmit zones.