Marlink, the global provider of maritime satellite communications, presents a new Access Controller system enabling seamless and cost-effective management of a ship’s onboard satellite communications network. The compact and lightweight system can be installed on any vessel to make switching between VSAT, Iridium OpenPort or Inmarsat FleetBroadband systems extremely quick and easy, helping users to efficiently manage the costs of satellite communications at sea.

“Bandwidth, coverage and costs vary from one satellite communications solution to another, which has led many ship operators to install more than one system onboard so that all of their requirements can be met. Our new Access Controller ensures that management of multiple systems is trouble-free. The system’s fully dynamic firewall capability enables the vessel operator to set up profiles, which allocate bandwidth and access to services depending on location and user priority, enabling a more efficient use of satellite communications services,” comments Chris Henny, Senior Project Manager, Marlink.

The Access Controller’s user friendly interface clearly displays which data services are being used, how much data has been sent and received, as well as how long the system has been online. Additionally,the ‘Remote User Control’ and ‘Remote WAN to WAN’ functions allow support technicians to access the system remotely if required. The system is available with four or eight ports to enable connection to the vessel’s network. The eight port model is available as a compact shelf, wall mounted unit or as a standard 19 inch 1U rack.

Marlink’s new Access Controller is manufactured by Livewire Connections, which has been a distributor of Marlink’s Wavecall(TM)solution since 2005. The relationship has now been expanded with Marlink distributing the Livewire FB-10 Pro Rack mounted Access Controller globally. Livewire has extensive experience in the maritime communications market, from Volvo 70 racing yachts to 80m private yachts, as well as merchant vessels and also acts as an airtime service provider.

As a global provider of maritime satellite communications, Marlink has established customer service centres operating in major regions throughout the world.

This level of regional presence means that the company is able to offer faster, more effective and locally focused service intervention and customer support when required.