Speedcast, a leading provider of communications and IT services, today announced the expansion of connectivity capabilities for Lindblad Expeditions, a globally recognized leader and pioneer in modern expedition travel, as part of a multi-year contract extension. In a comprehensive service upgrade, Speedcast is providing GEO and Starlink LEO satellite services, as well as nearshore cellular wireless, L-band satellite, and Speedcast's enhanced SD-WAN and SIGMA solutions, to ensure an unparalleled onboard connectivity experience for Lindblad's guests and crew.
With the addition of Starlink services, Speedcast is installing two high-performance flat marine antennas aboard many of Lindblad's vessels, with completion scheduled for the end of the year. The key to the improved user experience is attributed to the integration of Starlink services into Speedcast's Unified Global Platform (UGP), which provides guaranteed connectivity levels that Starlink's high-bandwidth, internet-class service cannot deliver as a standalone service.
The implementation of Speedcast's UGP for Lindblad Expeditions includes an upgrade to SD-WAN—a software-defined networking technology that seamlessly combines multiple transmission paths into a single, optimized, and secure WAN—and SIGMA, Speedcast's cloud-based solution that manages access to global networks via GEO and LEO satellites, L-band, and near-shore cellular wireless. This solution provides the Lindblad Expeditions fleet with uninterrupted, high-quality service. This combination of network technologies leverages the strengths of Starlink, Speedcast satellite connectivity, and near-shore cellular wireless as Lindblad's ships reposition and venture to the far reaches of the planet.
“With the launch of Starlink, our guests, crew, and visiting scientists will be able to stay connected like never before while continuing to immerse themselves in some of the most remote and fascinating places in the world,” said Arthur Theodorou, Vice President of Information Technology at Lindblad Expeditions.
