SES signed a contract for its O3b mPower satellite fleet to provide connectivity to the Explora 1 cruise ship of MSC Explora Journeys.
Explora Journeys is the high-end luxury travel brand and subsidiary of MSC Group (the world's largest container shipping company) under the umbrella of MSC Cruises - an Italian company registered in Switzerland and based in Geneva, with offices in Genoa, Naples, and Venice. MSC currently operates 16 cruise vessels.
The announcement means that passengers onboard MSC Explora 1 will be able to enjoy complimentary, reliable, high-speed, and uninterrupted Wi-Fi, no matter how remote the location. In addition, enhanced connectivity aims to improve the welfare and training of the crew and the performance, motivation, and retention of the employees.
This connectivity is delivered by SES’s upcoming 2nd-generation MEO (medium earth orbit) system – O3b mPOWER – which operates ~8000 km above the surface of the earth, and SES’s GEO (geostationary) fleet of satellites ensuring seamless connectivity.
Michael Ungerer (Explora Journeys' CEO) said that high-speed, reliable, and uninterrupted connectivity was no longer a ‘nice to have’, with "demand for connectivity services at sea growing in tandem with the development of social media platforms."
"Today’s guests simply expect seamless and uninterrupted connectivity comparable to on land as they want to share their experiences and stay online as much as possible. We are pleased to be able to offer this connectivity experience to our guests onboard Explora I thanks to SES’s services.”