Global satellite service operator IEC Telecom is partnering up with Elon Musk-promoted SpaceX’s satellite internet provider arm Starlink to offer a bouquet of satcom-based value-added services in the GCC, which could revolutionise the region’s agriculture and maritime sector operations, besides speeding up rescue and rehabilitation operations in disaster-struck areas such as Turkey-Syria.
The France-based IEC Telecom, in collaboration with Thuraya, the mobile satellite services arm of UAE-based Yahsat, is also gearing up to offer a range of vessel on-board communication options, including ‘home-alike’ streaming services in super yachts.
The three-some are currently in the process of launching ‘Xpand’ in the GCC region – a service portfolio powered by Starlink and enhanced by Thuraya L-band backup – which will offer a network management system enabling real-time consumption monitoring, a vital feature for utilising valuable satellite resources.
Xpand will also offer a set of applications by IEC Telecom to empower digitalisation: from videoconferencing and telemedicine to drone surveillance and remote maintenance.
“Each application will be optimised to consume up to 10 times less bandwidth,” Nabil Ben Soussia, Chief Commercial Officer, IEC Telecom Group, told Arabian Business.
“As such, they will remain operational over the narrow L-band channel and help save on traffic when sitcom services such as VSAT/LEO/LTE terminals are in use,” he said.
Soussia said the launch of the new satcom technology-based services will help GCC countries to take centre stage in agricultural transformation.
“GCC countries actively explore ways to boost food security by investing in Agriculture 4.0. While vertical farming happens in farmhouses that can be connected to terrestrial infrastructure, monitoring of open fields depends on satcom data transfer,” he said.
Soussia said from IoT to drone surveillance and remote monitoring, satcom will fuel data exchange for accurate and timely decision-making.
“As a result, we can now look at increased productivity and more sustainable farming,” Soussia said.
Starlink expands maritime services to GCC
Starlink’s maritime enterprise service is currently available across Australia, Europe, Northern America and some LATAM countries.
“We will be expanding coverage of this service to GCC between this year and next year,” Soussia said.
According to plans, the services are to be launched in the UAE, Oman and Yemen in 2023, while Saudi Arabia is to be covered in 2024.
The IEC Telecom senior executive said the company, in collaboration with its partners, plans to expand the portfolio of industry-specialised applications to ensure best customer service for each market in the GCC.
“Connectivity alone is insufficient to harness the power of satcom. Managed services and value-added applications are the factors that make a difference,” Soussia said.
The IEC-Starlink combo’s maritime services came in handy during the initial period of the Russia-Ukrainian war.
At the start of the war in late February 2022, approximately 94 vessels containing 2,000 seafarers worldwide were stranded in Ukrainian ports. Besides, more than 76,000 Ukrainian seafarers employed around the globe increasingly needed regular communication with loved ones back home.
“At the time, in line with its commitment to humanitarian initiatives, IEC Telecom significantly reduced the cost of calls to Ukraine. In addition, ship operators were also offered a 20 percent discount on scratch cards and doubled its maritime data services for the same rate,” Soussia said.
Xpand portfolio
Soussia said the Xpand portfolio has been designed in two versions: maritime and land.
“The maritime portfolio has many use cases – from advanced crew welfare on merchant’s vessels and at remote oil rigs to “home-alike” streaming on-board super yachts. Our customers can now enjoy the benefits of the Xpand maritime portfolio anywhere they set sail,” he said.
The land portfolio includes solutions for communications on the pause, typically used in camps, and communications on the move used by vehicular missions. This will be particularly useful during rescue operations when disasters strike.
New satellite launch
Soussia said Thuraya is currently preparing for the launch of the T4 satellite, with plans to make the new service available to end users by 2024 or early 2025.
“The new satellite will offer higher speeds and enhanced mobility. Smart sensor infrastructure, powered by Thuraya L-band, will revolutionise businesses in remote areas, particularly in the oil and gas sector and agriculture,” he said.
Soussia said IEC is currently in the process of partnering with other leading companies in certain sectors to launch some of its connectivity programmes.
He, however, declined to offer details of this, saying “all such developments are subject to mutual NDAs (non-disclosure agreements).”
“We are working with a few leading international organisations for Satcom-based humanitarian solutions. We are also working on new maritime solutions, aiming to increase operational scope on board by means of enhanced and ROI-optimised digitalisation,” Soussia said.
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