Yachting provides the ultimate experience of life at sea, with luxuries that make every voyage memorable. Water skis, jet packs and sea-bobs for the adventurous. Swimming pools, jacuzzies and spas for relaxation. Private theaters and game rooms for entertainment.

The most popular feature aboard, however, is invisible. It is less an amenity than a necessity. And it is one of the most difficult to provide in the flawless manner that yacht owners and charterers expect.

So, what is it? Internet connectivity. The high-speed connections so readily available on land now follow owners and guests aboard. But delivering a high-quality online experience from port to mid-ocean is something very few companies can do.

Is ‘Best Effort’ All You Need?

The latest connectivity option to hit the market – Starlink, is all the rage, with private owners and charter fleet operators excitedly installing the new LEO service antennas on board.  For these yacht decision makers, it’s important to keep in mind that Starlink offers ‘best effort’ service. Essentially, if there are problems accessing a network or video streaming is experiencing hiccups, end users might be out of luck. The best effort service that works so well at home can face challenges when “home” is afloat in all kinds of weather.

Speedcast has been in the business of connecting yachts, cruise ships, ferries and merchant vessels for more than 30 years. As an authorized reseller and integrator of Starlink services, our team of experts is excited about the new LEO technology. But we know it is just one part of delivering flawless connectivity afloat.

So how much data do you need for the ultimate yacht experience?

It largely depends on the number of people onboard and their usage. Starlink’s most popular mobile priority plans currently offer 50GB and 1TB of data. With just a few passengers, everyone can seamlessly send emails, messages, stream videos, and join conference calls without any issues. However, with a larger group, it is essential to consider a network management platform that not only integrates various services but also intelligently directs network traffic based on application requirements. Here is some indicative data and speed specifications for your reference*:

Storage

  • 1 Text Email (without attachment) 0.02MB
  • Social Messaging Text App (1-2 messages) 50KB
  • 1 Medium Quality Photo Download 1MB
  • 1 min of Standard Definition (SD) Streaming Video 7MB
  • 1 min of Streaming Music 1MB
  • 1 Email (with standard text only attachment) 0.5MB
  • Social Media Post (with medium quality photo) 0.4MB
  • 1 hour of Web Surfing 100MB
  • 1 High-definition (HD) Film 3GB to 5GB
  • Application Updates 50MB to 150 MB

Speeds

  • Whatsapp Voice Call 64 kpbs
  • Streaming SD Video 1.5 Mbps
  • SD Video Conferencing 1.5 Mbps
  • Streaming HD Video 5.0 Mbps

* This estimation is based on 4G/LTE-5G or broadband home internet connections. Please note that data consumption and speeds may vary depending on the type of connectivity used. For a more detailed analysis tailored to your specific needs and usage, please contact the Speedcast sales team.

Management Makes the Difference

When at sea, our network management platform, Speedcast SIGMA, automatically blends service to bring together multiple connectivity options. Conventional VSAT service delivers high reliability and a committed rate of data. Starlink and other low-Earth-orbit services, like OneWeb, provide high bandwidth and low latency at an attractive price. Weather-proof, L-band satellite service is available on demand as a backup.

When you’re near shore, SIGMA also brings land-based cellular into the mix, offering low-cost connections that can be bundled together for high capacity. SIGMA checks all these pathways for availability and quality, and automatically switches to the best, most cost-effective routes at that time. The platform’s enterprise SD-WAN technology delivers the highest levels of performance for yachts while reducing total bandwidth needs.

For the users aboard the yacht, however, it’s all invisible. Whether for entertainment, communication or safety, they experience a single, seamless network wherever the vessel may travel. And that’s what it means to deliver flawless connectivity at sea for some of the world’s most demanding vessels and customers.

Contact Speedcast today about your flawless connectivity at sea.