A year after implementing Marlin’s hybrid solutions on the Ultramarine, Quark Expeditions has reported continuous high-quality internet connectivity since the start of the 2021 Arctic season.
“Quark Expeditions is focused on creating unforgettable experiences for our guests, using small vessels to visit places that bigger ships cannot go and so making our itineraries unique,” said David Blancard, head of information technology at Quark Expeditions.
“For this, we rely on partners like Marlink who can provide reliable and innovative solutions that keep our customers connected and enable our ships to operate safely and sustainably in remote and delicate environments.”
Quark found that despite the high latitudes and harsh operational environment, guests aboard the ship have enjoyed high-quality internet access over the past year, according to a press release.
“Marlink is the leader in leveraging our technology and know-how to enable seamless, reliable connectivity in remote regions. Our experience in managing and providing hybrid network solutions in the expedition cruise sector was a key factor for Quark Expeditions,” added Tore Morten Olsen, president of Maritime at Marlink.
“Applying cutting-edge technologies like SD-WAN and in the future helping them adopt next-generation LEO services, means we can support providing the best possible experience to their customers.”
Marlink has provided a hybrid bespoke solution that includes a dual C-/Ku- Band and Ka-band VSAT. The company will further extend connectivity options on the Ultramarine in the spring of this year when the ship starts trial with Starlink LEO service, which will bring faster throughput in a combination with VSAT bandwidth.
With Marlink’s solution, traffic is managed using software-defined routing (SD-WAN) which automatically finds the most efficient connection channel for data transmission and communication. Additionally, to enable guests and crew to share their experiences with friends and family, the company has provided an Internet Café solution to manage Internet access, billing and security.
