Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, has equipped four
Paraná River push boats operated by Impala Paraguay with ![]()
Fleet Xpress connectivity, in a
breakthrough for maritime broadband inland along one of South America’s longest waterways.
The prime mover vessels are used by Impala Paraguay to steer its fleet of 30 double-hulled barges
along the waterway system to move gas oil, jet fuel, gasoline and naphtha products from Argentina
onward to Paraguay and Bolivia, exporting soya bean oil in the other direction. Long sections of the
transit take place outside the reach of 4G or GSM cellular networks.
To date, continuous push boat connectivity has been sustained using Inmarsat’s ![]()
FleetBroadband
service, which guarantees connectivity for the modern navigation systems and night operation
equipment, as well as the load sensors and GPS position monitoring installed on barges. On average,
each push boat consumes around 500GB of data per month for vessel management and crew
connectivity.
However, the unlimited bandwidth available from Fleet Xpress has proved necessary to support IP
(internet protocol) camera surveillance to ensure the safety of crew and the cargo transported by
Impala. As part of a three-year Fleet Xpress contract, each push boat is installed with 20 IP cameras
connected via onboard antennas, enabling continuous monitoring from Impala Paraguay offices.
“We are invested in providing the best service possible to our clients and ensuring that we have
state-of-the-art technology supporting every aspect of our operations,” said a spokesperson from
Impala Paraguay. “We believe using IP surveillance in our pushers sends a clear message to our
clients that we will take all measures necessary to ensure that our operations are done in an efficient,
reliable, and responsible manner,” the spokesperson concluded.
Following installation works undertaken in Asunción, Paraguay, Inmarsat’s Sales Director for Offshore
and Fishing, Chuck Moseley said “The choice of Fleet Xpress represented an inland breakthrough for
the hybrid combination of high-speed Ka-band plus continuous back-up over FleetBroadband’s L-band.
“Fleet Xpress is already powering the maritime data revolution, but recent months have also seen ship
owners accelerate uptake of video-based applications to enhance collaborative working, security,
telemedicine and crew connectivity,” Moseley continued. “The Paraná River is an artery for economic
development, carrying around 80% of Paraguay’s trade. This order demonstrates that guaranteed
global bandwidth via Fleet Xpress brings comparable gains inland to those already being achieved at
sea. Committed data rates backed-up by service level agreements also guarantee that Fleet Xpress
customers always gets what they pay for.”
About INMARSAT
Inmarsat is the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications. It owns and operates the
world’s most diverse global portfolio of mobile telecommunications satellite networks, and holds a
multi-layered, global spectrum portfolio, covering L-band, Ka-band and S-band, enabling unparalleled
breadth and diversity in the solutions it provides. Inmarsat’s long-established global distribution network
includes not only the world’s leading channel partners but also its own strong direct retail capabilities,
enabling end to end customer service assurance.
The company has an unrivalled track record of operating the world’s most reliable global mobile
satellite telecommunications networks, sustaining business and mission critical safety & operational
applications for more than 40 years. It is also a major driving force behind technological innovation in
mobile satellite communications, sustaining its leadership through a substantial investment and a
powerful network of technology and manufacturing partners.
Inmarsat operates across a diversified portfolio of sectors with the financial resources to fund its
business strategy and holds leading positions in the Maritime, Government, Aviation and Enterprise
satcoms markets, operating consistently as a trusted, responsive and high-quality partner to its
customers across the globe.
For further information, follow us on LinkedIn or on Twitter @InmarsatGlobal.
Source
INMARSAT