The maritime industry is rapidly evolving with technologies and innovations. Vessel operations must be safe, and crew welfare depends on reliable and uninterrupted network connectivity. Today, we proudly celebrate a new major milestone in maritime communication technology. The world’s first OneWeb full duplex installation onboard a Seaspan vessel, in collaboration with KVH.

The traditional marine network relies on the GEO (Geostationary) satellites operating 36,000 km above the earth. While functional, they come with limitations such as high latency, coverage gaps and slower data speeds. This is where OneWeb steps in to change the game.

What is OneWeb?

OneWeb is a new LEO (Low Earth orbit) satellite constellation network, approximately 1,200 km above Earth. This network delivers reliable, secure, and high-speed internet services with low latency. Its constellation consists of hundreds of satellites in low-earth orbit that communicate with OneWeb’s land stations around the globe. 

Key features of OneWeb:

• High-speed, low-latency performance
• Pole-to-pole global coverage
• Seamless connectivity
• Flexible hardware options
• High-performance data for operations, safety, and crew connectivity.

Technology we used in this installation

For this milestone project, we deployed Intellian OneWeb terminals, purpose-built to support high-speed, low-latency connectivity through the OneWeb LEO satellite network. OneWeb introduces two types of terminal technologies: parabolic antennas and flat-panel antennas.

Flat panel antennas:

On the Seaspan vessel, we installed the OneWeb Duplex Flat-Panel antenna system. This advanced terminal uses electronic beam steering instead of mechanical movement.

It enables,

• A compact, low profile design suitable for space-restricted vessels. 
• Faster satellite acquisition and seamless handover during vessel movement.
• Lightweight construction with minimal maintenance 

These features make flat-panel antennas ideal for modern vessels that demand strong performance, efficiency, and future-ready connectivity.

Parabolic antennas:

Parabolic terminals use dual-mechanically stabilized antennas, usually enclosed in a protective dome. These antennas maintain precise satellite alignment through mechanical tracking.

These are designed for:

• High-gain, high-performance connectivity
• Dual-antenna redundancy for uninterrupted service
• Seamless satellite handover and blockage mitigation in challenging environments
  

While both technologies support OneWeb terminals, the flat-panel system was selected for this installation due to its agility, space efficiency and sustainability.

Why This Installation Is a Global Milestone

This project marks a global milestone in maritime communication. More than a technical advancement, completing the world’s first OneWeb full duplex maritime installation, is a major achievement to Master Systems. Significantly it represents a shift in how vessels will connect, operate, and communicate in the future.

GEO satellite systems have long dominated marine connectivity. Even though they are reliable, they face challenges such as higher latency, slower speeds and coverage limitations. Therefore LEO networks demonstrate a new era of connectivity. It offers faster performance, lower latency and more global reach, including high latitude and polar regions.    

With this installation, we are proud to lead the way forward, proving that high-speed, low-latency connectivity at sea is not only possible but also it is now becoming the new standard. 

Contact Master Systems for reliable, professional marine equipment services and installation across the globe.