French cruise ship operator PONANT has completed the implementation of a trio of LEO satcom services alongside its standard VSAT system on the icebreaker vessel Le Commandant Charcot, deploying Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Iridium.
The combined system, delivered by Marlink, will deliver guaranteed throughput VSAT connectivity alongside the high speed, low latency capabilities of the LEO services for the ship’s polar voyages.
The combination of three primary services means that PONANT can select the backbone VSAT for data that requires a guaranteed throughput and augment the link using Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Iridium LEO services in polar areas.
A hybrid electric polar exploration vessel powered by LNG, Le Commandant Charcot is an icebreaking cruise ship with 123 staterooms, taking passengers to the most isolated regions of the polar world, such as the geographic North Pole, the Weddell Sea, the Ross Sea and Peter I Island.
“PONANT is dedicated to innovation in all aspects of our operations, both for our company and our customers. The need for top-tier connectivity remains paramount, even when operating in high altitudes and extreme weather conditions,” said Jean-Louis Cambert, CIO, PONANT.
“Marlink’s capability to integrate the best available connectivity across various bands and frequencies allows us to keep Le Commandant Charcot connected, ensuring the safety of our guests and crew.”
