HIGHLIGHTS

• GNS strengthens offer to international shipping companies with VSAT services from Orange Business Services

• Unlimited data usage will help address growth in ship-to-shore data transfer and connectivity in maritime sector

• Global infrastructure will enable customers to have worldwide service availability

• Enhanced protection from cyber threats

Global Navigation Solutions (‘GNS’), the maritime services group, today announced a new service that brings together GNS navigation software solutions with VSAT communications services from Orange Business Services, a global communications operator and integrator, for the benefit of GNS’s global commercial shipping customer base.

This new service will help shipping companies manage the exponential increases in ship-to-shore data transfer and address the challenge of connectivity in the maritime sector. It will transform the financial viability of VSAT and allow shipping companies to achieve new levels of operational efficiency and effectiveness, faster and easier than ever before. The service is based on five unique capabilities:

• Tailored packages that combine both VSAT and navigational information, making them both cost effective and easy to manage;
• Truly unlimited data is available (without fair use policies usually associated with VSAT services);
• Unrivalled protection from cyber threats using the Orange unique global infrastructure across land and sea;
• New Service Level Agreements that guarantee better service availability; and
• Unique GNS Voyager on board navigation solutions optimised for VSAT usage to provide seamless and secure transfer of data and more efficient digital navigation.

The new services draw on the distinct strengths of each company:

• Orange’s communications expertise and global infrastructure; and
• GNS’s software, data and analytics capabilities, underpinned by GNS’s industry and domain knowledge experts and software developers.

Paul Stanley, GNS’s CEO commented “The switchover to digital navigation is now well under way and for much of the maritime industry the need to access affordable satellite communications is a priority.

‘We are delighted to work with Orange, whose global infrastructure provides both the worldwide coverage and the cyber-threat protection our customers need to support safe and secure digital navigation. At the same time, we are pleased to support the drive for better connectivity for crews.”

“Communications combined with big data and cloud computing are true enablers to transform the shipping industry, allowing companies to access much richer data more quickly and make better and more informed decisions” said Amr Shaker, Head of the Satellite Business Unit and Director International Business Development at Orange Business Services.

GNS’ vision is to make more reliable, more affordable, and better VSAT services easily available to shipping companies and their crews worldwide. The new service provides the essential elements of a best-in-class VSAT service, including:

• Packaged service offerings: GNS is introducing new tailored packages that enable shipping companies to combine VSAT communications with navigation services on annual subscription, with leasing options for hardware.
• All types of data are supported: Orange VSAT comes without limitations, fair use clauses or restrictions. All data of all types, including video streaming is fully permitted across the network.
• Unrivalled cyber protection: The unique Orange global Virtual Private Network offers shipping companies the ability to communicate completely securely between ship and shore without touching the internet. Other security options are also available, including comprehensive Unified Threat Management to protect against cyber protection risk.

Software solutions optimised for VSAT will include navigational data download, virtual servers, remote diagnostics and on board system security as well as crew Wi-Fi and other social communications services. Ultimately in addition to on board software solutions, all these services will be available in the cloud.

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