Elcome has launched a new offline Video on Demand (VoD) system to provide seafarers with access to entertainment content without affecting vessel bandwidth.
The service allows up to 26 users to stream content simultaneously to their personal devices over the ship’s local network, with content delivered via an onboard media server.
Updates are downloaded during scheduled low-traffic windows, to avoid disruption to operational connectivity or increased satellite data costs.
“Until now, most crews could only watch a single TV channel at a time in the mess hall, often in a language foreign to their own,” said Asneed Ameer, Senior Manager – Connectivity at Elcome.
“With Elcome VoD, seafarers can now unwind in their own cabin with a library of movies, TV series, podcasts, and news programmes in their preferred language with zero impact on ship’s satellite bandwidth or connectivity costs.”
The system is available via subscription, managed by the ship operator. A basic package includes 160 movies and 189 hours of television, while a premium option adds more than 830 hours of TV and includes either Euronews or ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol.
Elcome says the content library is curated for multinational crews, with options tailored to Indian, Filipino, and other nationalities, and includes regular updates with both daily news and monthly refreshes.
The company notes that pricing is comparable to the cost of two consumer streaming subscriptions, without the additional data usage charges. Trials are currently underway on offshore support vessels and merchant ships.
