A partnership with a French company
Intellian and Eutelsat are working on the launch of a new satellite communications offering. The proposed system is based on a network of satellites in low orbit, at an altitude of around 1,200 kilometers. The network, which comprises two geo-stationary and neo-stationary constellations, totals around 600 satellites, compared with 12,000 for competing networks.
This innovation is the result of a merger between two companies. French satellite operator Eutelsat has acquired the operator of the low-earth orbit satellite constellation OneWeb, valued at some 3.5 billion euros, in 2023.
These jointly-developed terminals meet the needs of commercial, private and government customers requiring high-speed connectivity, even in white zones or hostile environments.
Testing under full-scale conditions
To test the system's capabilities and viability, there's nothing better than a full-scale test. It was aboard Mikael Mergui's Class 40 Centrakor that the latest addition to the range was installed. The antenna is mounted on the transom of the class 40 Centrakor
Used in the Transat Jacques Vabre, the system proved its reliability in the very tough conditions that the competitors had to contend with in the first third of the race. As Mikael confirms:
"When racing, one of the major challenges is to communicate with land, but also to receive weather files, so as to be hyper-reactive. Communication is crucial, as we saw in the last Vendée Globe and in the Ocean Race. It's important to share with the public, to show what life is like on board and to do live broadcasts.
This test in extreme conditions will help us to improve the prototype, collect the data needed to refine the technology and deploy it over the coming months".
Easier access to broadband
The Eutelsat-OneWeb prototype will keep the Centrakor boat connected to broadband. The coverage provided by the system will be more global than existing systems, and should be very effective in white zones.
The Intellian terminal has been optimized to reduce size, weight and power consumption, all of which are key criteria for a racing or cruising boat.
After this final development phase, a mass-market offering should be available in 2024.
