OSLO and PARIS — In an announcement on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Marlink confirmed it will deliver direct, secure global access to cloud services through the Microsoft ExpressRoute program. This integration allows the company’s maritime and enterprise customers to bypass the public internet when accessing Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365.
The agreement marks a significant step in the partnership between Marlink and Microsoft, enabling the extension of on-premises networks to Microsoft’s cloud services via dedicated circuits and Marlink’s global Points of Presence (PoP).
Technical Specifications and Managed Connectivity
The integration is delivered as a fully managed service, which Marlink orchestrates across its multi-orbit satellite networks. The dedicated connectivity is designed to address specific performance bottlenecks common in remote and offshore environments:
- Dedicated Circuits: Provides a private path to the Microsoft backbone, reducing exposure to public internet congestion.
- Performance Metrics: Optimizes application performance by providing predictable latency and reduced packet loss compared to traditional routing.
- Infrastructure Hybridization: Connects remote assets directly to Microsoft’s edge topology, supporting mission-critical operations and real-time collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams.
- Portfolio Integration: The service is integrated into Marlink’s “Possibility Portfolio,” which includes Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) and cybersecurity management.
Executive Commentary
“This integration enables our customers to consume Microsoft cloud services as an extension of their private networks, with the performance and security required for business-critical applications,” said Carlos Carbajal, Chief Portfolio & Innovation Officer at Marlink. “By bringing the cloud closer to remote and distributed environments, we remove traditional connectivity barriers, enabling customers to accelerate cloud adoption.”
Sudha Mahajan, Partner Product Manager, Azure Networking at Microsoft, added that the ecosystem of connectivity providers like Marlink is essential for helping organizations securely access Azure services regardless of their operational location.
Implementation and Operational Impact
The integration is available immediately for Marlink customers operating in the maritime, energy, and humanitarian sectors. By utilizing ExpressRoute, operators can simplify compliance and data-handling requirements for regulated workloads while maintaining the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) required for digital transformation at the “edge” of the network.
