Inmarsat has announced a new partnership with Lagoon from Groupe Beneteau that enables the company's Fleet One connectivity solution to be available as a line-fit and retro-fit option on all Lagoon catamarans across the Construction Navale Bordeaux and Lagoon shipyards in western France.
Available through partner Advanced Tracking, the offer provides boat owners with a cost-effective, two-year package that features unlimited satellite communication as required, plus shoreside GSM 3G/4G (including 5Go/month broadband) in more than 100 countries and WiFi connectivity within 10 km.
Capitalizing on Inmarsat’s Fleet One service created especially for leisure customers, the communication package includes 1000 minutes’ voice package, 24/7 rescue access, medical assistance, international concierge, automatic weather files reception, Konectis-mail email system, personal blog creation and tracking via satellite.
The pack consists of the compact and light Fleet One satellite antenna with IP phone handset and a 4G/LTE/Wi-Fi router. Key Fleet One services includes simultaneous voice and IP data at up to 100kbps and access to Inmarsat’s free 505 safety service, which in an emergency directs a call straight through to a Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre.
Boat owners can enhance their cruising experience as they wish, by updating chart navigation systems and weather forecasts in real time, making calls, accessing emails and social network apps and live tracking provided by the Konectis platform from Advanced Tracking.
The agreement will enable more boat owners to take advantage of Fleet One’s capability to deliver uninterrupted connectivity outside VHF or GSM coverage areas to access real-time weather information, to stay in contact with friends and family and to improve on-board safety. Services are delivered over the reliable L-band satellite network using the Inmarsat-4s, proven to achieve 99.9 percent availability globally.
The Fleet One terminal is specifically designed for use within the maritime environment and is quick and easy to install. Fleet One terminals and Inmarsat’s Leisure Plan also offers flexible airtime pricing to suit individual needs. The Lagoon by Beneteau is the best recognized catamaran brand worldwide and a huge seller in Europe. Lagoon offers the widest selection on the market, with 14 models ranging from 11 to 24 meters.
Executive Comments
Alexandre Dauberville, Marketing Director of Lagoon said that in the company's connected world, communication on a yacht is a key feature for the new generation of sailors and an important point for all boat owners for cruising and security. Creating this partnership between two worldwide leaders — Lagoon and Inmarsat — offers clients the best SATCOM service.
Arvid Karlberg, Business Development Manager, Fleet One, Inmarsat, added that the company is delighted that Lagoon from Groupe Beneteau has provided this significant endorsement for the Inmarsat Fleet One service. Through this partnership with Advanced Tracking and the new communication package, more leisure customers will now be able to benefit from being connected at all time with reliable speeds when navigating close to shore and at high seas.
Christophe Allan, Advanced Tracking, Managing Director at Lagoon, added that most sail boat owners are now looking for connectivity all the time, the same as they experience at home. This offer provides satellite connectivity only when needed. It makes life easy on board by providing a hybrid solution that allows switching between 3G and 4G connectivity along the coast and harbor WiFi when in port and SATCOM via Inmarsat’s Fleet One service when out at high sea. Fleet One is the ideal solution as the antenna is compact and easy to install, with the router allowing WiFi connectivity on-board. In just the next few years, no one is going to cross the Atlantic anymore without connectivity on board and Fleet One is the answer for uninterrupted connectivity.