Now both these vital services – voice and data – are available over one compact antenna with minimal bandwidth requirements, thanks to a partnership development from IEC Telecom and GTMaritime.

MarineStar E-Lite provides voice and data connectivity in a package optimised for smaller vessels. Voice services are delivered over Thuraya’s Marine Star terminal, while email provision comes via IEC Telecom’s OneMailLite application, powered by GTMaritime. This dedicated connectivity solution is equipped with a fleetwide shore-side dashboard, allowing full visibility over performance, threat management and enabling remote changes to system configurations and real- time management of consumption limits. In addition, all files being transferred are compressed up to 95%, saving on airtime costs.

“MarineStar E-Lite is the most affordable solution designed particularly for small vessels. There’s no more need for long-term commitments or heavy airtime plans and no hidden costs either. This package is geared to cover the basic communication requirements and it does it well,” said Nabil Ben Soussia, CEO Asia, Middle East & CIS at IEC Telecom Group.

By default, MarineStar offers two lines to separate corporate communication and crew welfare. By including an email app, this voice terminal can now serve as a comprehensive communication solution for small and mid-sized vessels as well as a resilient back-up solution for large VSAT-equipped vessels.

“Cargo vessels, tankers and bulk carriers are well prepared to support the rising demand for digital connectivity. With VSAT on board, crews have an almost GSM user experience. However, a lot of our customers, especially in Asia and MENA regions, own mid and small-sized vessels that have no room or budget for such a set up. During the pandemic the need for connectivity has become more apparent, particularly for the fishing industry and for offshore support vessels,” explained Mr. Ben Soussia. “The impact of travel restrictions, port closures and other Covid-19 operating requirements meant that the precise coordination of their work became more important than ever, particularly considering the need to decrease crew capacity to ensure social distancing. With reliable e-mail service on board, such precision became achievable”.

Vessel operators need reliability and OneMailLite ensures email is successfully delivered, even if the vessel passes through the area with no signal. The app continues to work offline and automatically resumes data transfer from point of interruption.

This precision also proves its worth in the leisure sector which has experienced an increase in bookings as people use yachts as a safe haven to work or holiday. Reliable voice and data services on board allow vessel owners to remain reachable at all times as well as ensuring improved safety for the crew and guests.

With cyber security an essential consideration, particularly following the implementation of the IMO’s cyber guidelines. The OneMailLite application has been developed in accordance with latest data protection regulations and includes robust security features.

“Attention to cyber security is one of the core principles behind the GTMaritime technology. OneMailLite is end-to-end encrypted. The app is equipped with multiple virus scanners and spam filters to ensure the mail received is safe and relevant. This approach boosts cyber security and helps vessel owners to comply with latest data protection legislation,” outlined Kirstie Williams, Head of Sales from GTMaritime.

“We’ve been working with the IEC Telecom team over the past few months to incorporate our software into their product portfolio to ensure that all vessels, no matter the size, can have a cyber secure and stable maritime optimized solution. We are confident that this partnership will meet the demanding requirements for all IEC customers.”

About IEC Telecom:

With more than 25 years' experience, today IEC Telecom is a leading provider of satellite communications services. We enable digitalisation for the maritime industry as well as remote units on land. For urban networks, we provide a powerful satellite back up to ensure the business continuity of customer enterprises.

IEC Telecom has long-standing business relationships with all the key satellite operators. As a strategic partner for Inmarsat, Iridium, Thuraya, and Yahsat, we're in the unique position to support organisations with global operations as well as offer a wide variety of plans for area-by-area use to regional customers.

Our portfolio includes a wide range of satellite products (from handset to VSAT services), solutions, and value-added services. In addition, we offer 24/7 support for satellite-based solutions during their full lifecycle.

IEC Telecom Group has offices across eight countries: Denmark, France, Kazakhstan, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Turkey, and UAE. For more information browse our website: iec-telecom.com

About GTMaritime:

Wherever you are, we are.

  • Over 20 years maritime communications experience
  • 7,500+ vessels & 500+ businesses worldwide trust GTMaritime with their communication software
  • Proven 100% service record with no unscheduled downtime
  • 100% malware blocking with over 86,000 malware attacks stopped in the last 12 months
  • Over 5.3m spam messages and 1.7m known viruses blocked in the last 12 months
  • 24-7-365 technical support from ITIL trained engineers
  • Offices in the UK and Singapore along with a global partner network
  • Continuous software development ensures rapid deployment of new functionality, as well as providing software updates for vulnerabilities

Since 1998 GTMaritime has been providing a range of technology solutions and services to the maritime industry that serve to enable effective communications over satellite.

We specialise in providing solutions and services that help ensure vessel compliance and business operability 365 days a year, as well as keeping crew in touch with friends and family whilst at sea. All of this is backed up by a market leading infrastructure and unrivalled 24-hour customer support, every day of the year.

Our development team deliver continuous development and enhancement features to ensure our products stay ahead of the ever-growing cyber threats, with silent system enhancements deployed on a weekly basis.

We provide these services from our head office in the UK and Singapore – and increasingly through an established and growing network of resellers and partners around the world.

Media Contacts

Anastasia Kuzmenko, Group Head of Marketing & Communications

T: +971 (0) 50 222 59 37, E: anastasia.kuzmenko@iec-telecom.com

Kibriyo Ishan-Khojaeva, Marketing Specialist

T: +971 (0) 54 791 3715, E: kibriyo.ishan-khojaeva@iec-telecom.com

Debra Munford, PR Account Manager

E: dmunford@elabor8.co.uk , T: +44 (0) 1296 682356