Fast-expanding satellite facilities company Speedcast International says it is adding another 350 vessels, both passenger carrying as well as commercial cargo ships. Speedcast says it has entered into an important strategic partnership with London-based satellite operator Inmarsat.

There’s a growing demand from large cruise ship operators to provide full-service broadband access, including video, for their passengers.

A detailed report in trade mag Marine Electronics & Communications (MEC) says that Speedcast will be using Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress and possibly Global Xpress satellite capacity for the larger cruise ships.

MEC adds that Inmarsat Maritime’s president Ronald Spithout saying that the extra 350 vessels brings the total number of vessels contracted to use Inmarsat capacity towards the 10,500 mark, and that vessels were being converted at a rate of some 250 installations or upgrades per month.

Speedcast bought Harris CapRock, another facilities company, last year.

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