Bandwidth Demand for Maritime Markets to Exceed 160 Satellite Transponders

Wilmington, DE, July 28, 2014 - NSR's Commercial Mobility via Satellite, 10th Edition report finds the maritime market will dominate demand for FSS satellite capacity in large part due to cruise ships, offshore platforms and merchant maritime customers.

At over 980,000 in-service units by 2023, the maritime market will demand almost 160 transponders of FSS capacity, and generate more than US$ 5.5 billion dollars in retail revenue. Over the next ten years a migration towards High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) offerings is quite likely across most maritime markets, except fishing that may see more hybrid systems such as MSS broadband or small VSAT services alongside narrowband offerings.

“Bandwidth demand is rising across most ships, and with more capacity available globally, the industry is in a race to meet the needs for seafarers, crew and passengers that want to stay connected,” said Claude Rousseau, NSR Research Director and co-author of the report. “With growth stabilizing from economic recession in the maritime market, there is more focus on improving operational efficiencies, providing services to crew to retain them, and to ensure compliance with regulations,” added Brad Grady, NSR Senior Analyst and co-author of the report. With newer, larger, more sophisticated maritime vessels under construction, connectivity and communications will be a key enabler of cost and operational efficiencies – from fishing vessels to cruise ships.

Going forward, the ‘Fear of Missing Out (#FOMO) for both work and pleasure will trigger a drive to more broadband connectivity, leading vendors to expand into what could be high-growth markets for new bandwidth. “The passenger market is one visible segment that emulates this trend and as a result will show a doubling of the VSAT market penetration in the next decade,” stated Grady, “but at the same time, crew and operational needs in merchant maritime and offshore platforms and vessels will capture the largest slice of the 160 transponders of demand at the end of 2023.”

Commercial Mobility via Satellite, 10th Edition continues a decade-long study of the satellite mobility market for consumer and enterprise markets. The report provides a completely updated assessment with hundreds of graphs and thousands of data points to help guide readers in their examination of demand trends by region and globally. For additional information on this report, including a full table of contents, list of figures and executive summary, please visit www.nsr.com or call NSR at +1-617-576-5771.