FURUNO’s Inmarsat FleetBroadband FELCOM 500 delivers faster, more cost-effective solution to maritime broadband data and voice communications on a global basis. Once installed, FleetBroadband will turn a ship into a broadband floating office where constant, simultaneous access to voice and multiple high-speed data services are available, transforming access to data at sea. Increasing levels of both operational and social communications can be conducted all at the same time through this new service. Navigators can obtain weather and chart updates* online in order to optimize their route planning and monitoring tasks, while all onboard can enjoy the benefit of the Internet, e-mail and VoIP calls to the head offices or their friends and family back home all via a single terminal.

FleetBroadband represents a quantum leap in terms of marine communication speeds. With its data capability of up to 432 kbps – more than three times the maximum for Fleet 77 service – the FELCOM 500 will alter the way mariners and vessels communicate, just as on-shore broadband data communications paved the way for the broadband IP era.