Satcom Global has launched a new maritime VSAT solution that allows vessel managers and owners to make unlimited changes to their onboard connectivity. Customers can upgrade, downgrade and even suspend their service on-demand via a dedicated and secure customer portal, without penalisation.

As vessels require increasing capacity to support more sophisticated digital applications, balancing the communications budget can be challenging.  With bandwidth packages charged via daily increment, AuraNow allows customers to adjust their connectivity and spend, in line with their day to day and emerging requirements.

AuraNow allows shipowners and IT managers to access a wide range of new applications onboard for a short period of time with minimal cost implications. Bandwidth can be upgraded at any time, at the touch of a button, to support activities such as remote audits, vessel inspections and crew training.

Similarly, maritime industries that operate seasonally or on a charter basis, will have the ability to deploy communications only when they are needed, and when vessels are sailing. Vessels will no longer need to overcommit to plans or pay for bandwidth they do not consistently need.

AuraNow is managed by a one-stop, easy to use portal. As well as the ability to make direct changes to vessel bandwidth packages, the portal also provides access to a range of useful network statistics and metrics, live vessel tracking, Ku-band coverage beams, and invoicing and management information.

“AuraNow is a true industry first, designed to support the real needs of the communications user, rather than to capitalise on locking customers into prohibitive lengthy contracts. AuraNow is the only platform optimised to satisfy the connectivity required by the maritime community now, and long into the future. We urge all vessel managers and owners to explore the extensive benefits of AuraNow, before committing to yet another restrictive service plan,” said Ian Robinson, CEO at Satcom Global.

A number of early adopters including PACC Ship and Pritchard-Gordon Tankers are already users of the new maritime VSAT solution.