Marlink has launched XChange NextGen, an edge cloud platform designed to unify connectivity, network management, cyber security, cloud services, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) applications within a single edge architecture.
The company says that the set-up should help users to reduce the onboard hardware footprint by consolidating multiple functions, potentially lowering the total cost of ownership for vessel owners.
“As fleets accelerate digital transformation, they need platforms that are built for control and scalability, not constraint,” said Tore Morten Olsen, President Maritime at Marlink.
“XChange NextGen gives ship operators the freedom to design their own digital environment on a secure, unified foundation. It reduces complexity, lowers hardware dependency, and ensures their platform evolves as their operational and regulatory requirements change.”
The new system features an application-agnostic architecture with virtual machine hosting, allowing shipowners to run their own software stacks alongside Marlink services. It also supports co-managed flexibility, giving fleet IT teams the choice to retain control or adopt a fully managed model.
By processing and storing data at the edge, the platform is intended to optimise bandwidth usage. The system provides built-in disaster recovery capabilities and supports policy-managed crew connectivity to balance crew internet with shipowner control over data allocation and access policies.
