1 3 5 Social media usage onboard cruise ships has increased significantly as guests share their experiences enhanced solution is built on SES’s next generation O3b mPOWER constellation network. O3b mPOWER is SES's global terabit-level scalable constellation that will operate in medium earth orbit – 8,000 kilometres away from Earth. Based on the proven success of SES's current O3b system, the new system provides an unprecedented increase in flexibility and throughput and is capable of continuously delivering multiple gigabits per second to a single ship anywhere on Earth during seasonal peaks and in areas of high density. O3b mPOWER’s advanced technical features, which include a ‘follow-the-ship’ capability, allow for maximum efficiency in delivering the highest throughput available today. Each vessel receives the bandwidth it requires – whenever and wherever it’s needed – with the ability to scale as conditions change. This is all controlled dynamically via an intuitive service portal, significantly improving the guest experience by reducing overall latency and balancing traffic loads. The new O3b mPOWER system provides the ideal combination of global coverage, low-latency and highthroughput performance for the cruise market, ensuring seamless immersive wi-fi and connectivity experiences. SES has entered into long-term strategic framework agreements with four of the five largest cruise lines for services delivered over the next-generation O3b mPOWER in enabling a new-era of internet connectivity services to their cruise fleets. With satellites scheduled to launch in the first half of 2022 and service beginning later in the year, the highperformance connectivity delivered by O3b mPOWER will allow the cruise industry to leverage a highly resilient global network and deliver an always-on, fibre-like connectivity experience, as well as delivering seamless and secured access to cloud-based platforms and applications for shipboard productivity, passenger communications and entertainment. Cruise lines will also be able to dynamically optimise the required bandwidth and increase connectivity to any ship wherever and whenever it may be, delivering the fastest internet speeds at sea that result in truly immersive guest experiences. Furthermore, O3b mPOWER will allow cruise ships to achieve operational efficiencies by enabling real-time condition monitoring and other connected operational technology. CFR Simon Maher is vice president of global sales for cruise maritime services at SES
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