VT iDirect has announced that Maritime Communication Services has launched an iDirect Evolution network to support broadband IP services for one of its largest maritime customers, Carnival Corporation.
The service is based on iDirect's newest additions to its Evolution product line, the high-performance Evolution X5 Satellite Router and Evolution XLC Line Cards, as well as iDirect's latest operating software upgrade, iDX 2.0. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.
The iDirect Evolution network will enable Harris MCS to fulfill a new five-year contract with Carnival Corporation, supporting high-speed Internet access as well as voice and data services for cruise ship passengers and crew.
The new managed services agreement covers Carnival vessels under the Costa Cruises brand, Italy's largest tourism group and Europe's top cruise company. Costa Cruises operates 14 cruise ships worldwide and expects to commission three new ships by 2012. Harris MCS also plans to migrate other maritime and land-based customers to the Evolution platform.
iDirect's Evolution X5 satellite router supports high-speed, high-efficiency IP broadband connectivity. The Evolution X5 enables leisure companies like Carnival to upgrade or replace current service to support greater data, Voice over IP (VoIP) and video communications, keeping pace with passenger and crew needs.
The Evolution X5 also supports iDirect's suite of advanced mobility features for the maritime market such as Automatic Beam Switching, as well as iDirect's Global Network Management System capability.
"In today's maritime industry, ship passengers and crew expect access to a full suite of onboard applications, Internet connectivity and voice services. With the iDirect Evolution platform, we can meet higher service level agreements that provide our customers with the opportunity of offering affordable flat-fee broadband worldwide." – Rick SIMONIAN, President, Harris MCS
"iDirect has set the industry standard for onboard connectivity, developing advanced VSAT technology to support always-on broadband for voice, video and data communications. The key feature of our platform is TDMA-based shared VSAT, giving fleet operators a flexible method for sharing bandwidth between vessels at an affordable flat rate." – Rob KILROY, Vice President Americas, iDirect
iDirect's Evolution product line supports a wide range of carrier IP data rates, FEC codes and modulation types, including up to 16APSK on outbound and up to 8PSK on the inbound. Evolution includes the advanced features of the iDirect Intelligent Platform to help operators amplify the gains of DVB-S2, enabling satellite networks to meet demanding service level agreements and reach data speeds of up to 156 Megabits per second.
iDirect recently introduced the high-performance Evolution X5 Satellite Router and Evolution XLC-11 and XLC-M Line Cards, engineered to support either DVB-S2/ACM or iNFINITI TDM outbound mode. This upgrade combines iDirect's Evolution and iNFINITI product lines with iDirect's enhanced feature set onto a single platform. These new products are accompanied by an operating software upgrade, iDX 2.0, with the industry's most efficient inbound coding technology.
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