 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Communications satellite operators |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Mobile and fixed satellite services |
| Owner | EADS Astrium |
| Subsidiaries | Vizada, Vizada Networks, Marlink |
Vizada is a worldwide satellite communications service provider which operates stations that connect satellite communications to terrestrial telecommunications and IP networks. Vizada provides both mobile and fixed satellite telecommunications to markets including merchant shipping, defense and government, fishing and yachting, oil and gas, mining, and non-governmental organizations. The product offer covers maritime, land, and aeronautical services. In 2011, the Vizada Group was acquired by EADS, to be integrated as a subsidiary of Astrium.[1]
History
Vizada has conducted acquisitions and reorganizations of several global telecommunications entities including France Telecom and Telenor, as well as vertically-specialized companies such as Sait Communications and TDCom.
- 1940s: The company was involved in maritime communications from World War II, when it began operating a network of radio communications in Europe.[2]
- 1970s: Originally part of Norwegian operator Telenor, Vizada became the first to use satellites for domestic use.[3]
- 1976: Eik Teleport, situated on the southwest coast of Norway, was established to provide communications to oil platforms in the North Sea.[3]
- 1979: Creation of the International Maritime Satellite Organisation (Inmarsat) under the auspices of the United Nations and IMO with the contribution of France, Norway, and the US as founding members.
- 1991: The France Telecom group was the fifth largest shareholder in Inmarsat, the international maritime satellite provider.[4] Telenor Satellite Services at Eik Teleport developed the Sealink Maritime VSAT solution to provide communications services between remote locations at sea and fleet management offices on shore.[5]
- 1997: Creation of Taide Network (now Vizada Networks) in Holmestrand, Norway, from an academic project initiated at universities in Oslo, Norway, and Vilnius, Lithuania in the early 1990s. VSAT services operations were established in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Austria.
- 1999: Satellite services were split from Telenor core business into independent operating units: Telenor Satellite Services (maritime Inmarsat and fixed satellite services) and Telenor Satellite Network (VSAT networks). They would later form one single company.
- 2001–2002: France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications acquired DT Mobile Satellite (Germany), Glocall (Netherlands), and TDcom (France).[3]
- 2002: Telenor Satellite Services acquired Comsat Mobile Communications (USA) and Sait Communications, a leading maritime communications service provider which was renamed Marlink.
- 2007: Apax Partners acquired FTMSC and Telenor Satellite Services and formed Vizada.[6]
- 2010: Vizada, through its subsidiary Marlink, received the Inmarsat 2010 partner award recognizing Vizada as a solutions innovator for the merchant shipping market.[7]
- 2011: EADS acquired all assets of the Vizada Group for approximately US$1 billion for its Astrium Services business unit. The acquisition was concluded in December 2011.[8]
- 2015: Airbus DS decided to sell its Satcom division.
Vizada Group
The Vizada Group operates offices and satellite gateways worldwide, and it has three subsidiaries: Vizada, which markets global mobile and fixed satellite communications; Vizada Networks, which specializes in fixed satellite and hybrid network solutions; and Marlink, which focuses on maritime satellite communication.
Vizada
Vizada is an independent provider of global satellite-based mobility services. The company, which was formed by the merger of Telenor Satellite Services and France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications, offers mobile and fixed connectivity services from satellite network operators through a network of 400 service provider partners.
Vizada works with a range of network providers in the industry, including: Inmarsat, Iridium, Thuraya, Eutelsat, Intelsat, Loral, SES World Skies, and SES Americom.
Vizada Networks
Vizada Networks (exTaide Networks),[9] provides international and regional broadband fixed satellite services, international telephony and hybrid network solutions. Vizada Networks works with the major fixed satellite operators, such as Eutelsat, Intelsat, and SES World Skies.
Vizada Networks' offices are located in Oslo and Holmestrand in Norway.
Marlink
Marlink is a large maritime satellite communications provider[10] equipping vessels with mobile-satellite services and VSAT services.[11]
Products
Sea
For more than 25 years, Vizada has provided maritime communication products based on Inmarsat and Iridium technologies. Vizada also developed its own satellite communication solution based on VSAT technology called Pharostar. Vizada's products provide broadband data and voice communications onboard seabound vessels.
| Product | Technology | Use | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharostar | VSAT | Standardized maritime service delivering unlimited access up to 6044 kbit/s for internet, email, VoIP and videoconferencing | Global and regional coverage available |
| Custom VSAT Networks | VSAT | Tailored land based service including high-speed voice, fax, data throughputs up to 8 Mbit/s, network design, dimensioning, technology, space capacity, backhauling, applications, and service delivery | Global and regional coverage available |
| FleetBroadband | Inmarsat | Maritime service delivering simultaneous voice and data. Streaming up to 256 kbit/s. | Global Coverage. |
| Fleet 77/55/33 | Inmarsat | Maritime service delivering voice, fax, ISDN data and Mobile Packet Data Service | Global coverage for voice and spot coverage for data & fax |
| Inmarsat C/Mini C | Inmarsat | Maritime service providing two-way data communications | Global beam coverage |
| Inmarsat B | Inmarsat | Digital maritime service delivering worldwide digital voice, fax and data communications | Global beam coverage |
| Inmarsat Mini M | Inmarsat | Digital maritime service providing voice, fax, and data communications | Spot beam coverage |
| Iridium Handhelds | Iridium | Satellite telephones delivering voice, fax and data via optional data kit: 2.4 kbit/s, up to 9.6 kbit/s with direct internet service | Pole-to-pole coverage |
| Iridium Maritime | Iridium | Maritime service delivering voice, fax and data: up to 9.6 kbit/s with direct internet service | Pole-to-pole coverage |
| Iridium OpenPort | Iridium | Maritime service delivering simultaneous voice and always-on internet access up to 128 kbit/s. Streaming video up to 128 kbit/s | Pole-to-pole coverage |
| Thuraya Handhelds | Thuraya | Satellite telephone delivering voice, fax, GPS, data. Telephone integrating the satellite and the GSM connectivity | Regional coverage in Europe, Africa & Asia |
| WaveCall SeaLink | VSAT | Customized maritime service delivering access for internet, email, VoIP and business applications | Multi-regional coverage |
Land
Vizada provides land satellite communication products based on Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya technologies. Vizada also provides broadband satellite solutions based on a VSAT network.
| Product | Technology | Use | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| BGAN | BGAN | Mobile land based service delivering simultaneous voice and broadband data communications up to 492 kbit/s, video streaming up to 384 kbit/s and up | Global coverage |
| Inmarsat GAN | Inmarsat | Mobile land based service delivering voice, fax and data up to 64 kbit/s | Spot beam coverage |
| ThurayaIP | Thuraya | Mobile land based service delivering broadband data communications up to 444 kbit/s, video streaming at up to 384 kbit/s | Regional coverage in Europe, Africa & Asia |
| Inmarsat Handheld | Inmarsat | Satellite telephones delivering voice services | Global coverage |
| Iridium Handhelds | Iridium | Satellite telephones delivering voice, fax and data via optional data kit: 2.4 kbit/s, up to 9.6 kbit/s with direct internet service | Pole-to-pole coverage |
| Thuraya Handhelds | Thuraya | Satellite telephone delivering voice, fax, GPS, data. Telephone integrating the satellite and the GSM connectivity | Regional coverage in Europe, Africa & Asia |
| Custom VSAT Networks | VSAT | Tailored land based service including high-speed voice, fax, data throughputs up to 8 Mbit/s, network design, dimensioning, technology, space capacity, backhauling, applications, and service delivery | Global and regional coverage available |
Air
Vizada provides aero satellite communications products based on the Inmarsat Swift services. These products enable high speed and IP based communication in the cockpit and cabin for voice communication, internet browsing, fax and file sharing.
| Product | Technology | Use | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| SwiftBroadband | Inmarsat | Simultaneous voice and data, Internet access up to 432 kbit/s and 64 kbit/s ISDN. Video streaming at up to 128 kbit/s | Global coverage |
| Swift | Inmarsat | Aeronautical service for cabin delivering voice, fax and data via ISDN (up to 64 kbit/s) or Mobile Packet Data Service (MPDS) | Spot beam coverage |
| Aero L/H/H+/I | Inmarsat | Range of aeronautical satellite communications delivering a variety of digital voice, fax, and data services along with some flight monitoring applications |
Solutions
Vizada provides services around satellite communications such as data traffic management tools, secure communication tools, emailing services, data compression and encryption services, prepaid cards for satellite communications and fixed to satellite mobile communications.
| Solution type | Solution name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging Services | SkyFile Mail | Compressed data transmission via email, e-fax and SMS; developed by Shamrock Software |
| SkyFile Anti Virus | Protection from malicious software such as viruses, spyware etc.; based on the Sophos anti-virus engine | |
| SkyFile Weather | Customizable weather information, including high resolution images; using data from Météo France | |
| SkyFile Video | Capture, compress, edit and transmit video files. | |
| SkyFile Access | Free FTP space to exchange large files, webmail & web browsing. | |
| SkyFile C | Optimized Inmarsat C and Mini C communications via specific land earth stations | |
| Prepaid Solutions | Universal Card | Prepaid voice calling, SMS, email & web usage |
| Fixed2Mobileb | Satellite Direct | Allows for satellite calls from any location to any satellite terminal. |
| Satellite Direct Plus | Allows for highly cost-efficient fixed-to-mobile satellite calls. | |
| IP & Networking | Terralink Data Manager | Allows to set firewall-filters, administrate account profiles & select traffic priorities. |
| Terralink Data Manager Live | Allows to set firewall-filters, administrate account profiles & select traffic priorities as well as view traffic consumption in real-time. | |
| Interconnect | Connection between mobile satellite terminal to corporate network. | |
| Business Tools | The Source | Online portal for management and control of end-user communications accounts. |
| Vizada XChange | Vizada XChange | Vizada's proprietary box and online interface for managing satellite communications services for the maritime industry. |
Infrastructure
Land earth stations
Vizada is operating five earth stations around the world that connect satellites to terrestrial networks.[12]
| Earth Station | Country | In operation since | Infrastructures | Technologies supported | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aussaguel |  France | 1980 | 37 acres | Inmarsat, Thruaya, Iridium and Vizada's solutions | Atlantic and Indian oceans |
| Eik |  Norway | 1976 | 10 acres | Inmarsat, VSAT Maritime | Atlantic and Indian oceans |
| Nittedal | Norway | 1986 | - | VSAT Networks | Africa, Asia, Europe and eastern part of South America |
| Santa Paula |  United States | 1976 | 10 acres | Inmarsat, VSAT Maritime, DGPS | Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Rim nations, the eastern Indian Ocean and the western North America |
| Southbury | United States | 1975 | 6 acres | Inmarsat, VSAT Maritime, DGPS | Atlantic Ocean regions East and West |
Vizada also has an earth station in Japan through a partnership with KDDI. The earth station is located in Yamaguchi.
Point of presence
Vizada's IP points of presence provide local access to the global broadband services. They are located in:
- Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Aussaguel, France
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- London, United Kingdom
- New York City, United States
- Oslo, Norway
Partnership
Telecoms Sans Frontières
In 1998, Vizada entered into partnership with the Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF).[13] Vizada provides TSF with mobile satellites services and training for TSF personnel. TSF used Vizada's services on 14 separate occasions in 2009, and notably for the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In 2011, Vizada provided TSF with hardware, airtime for the voice calls and internet connections on the border between Tunisia and Libya.[14]
See also
References
- ↑ "EADS's Astrium Satellite Unit Buys Vizada to Build U.S. Presence, Services". Bloomberg. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
- ↑ "SatCom Feature: Flying High Again". Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. 5 August 2004. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- 1 2 3 "Vizada Group". Vizada. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ↑ "The history of Sealink". Marlink. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ↑ "Apax Acquires Telenor, Spins Off Vizada". Satellite Today. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ↑ "VIZADA RECEIVES INMARSAT 2010 PARTNER AWARD FOR "MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRACT"". Connect-World. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ↑ "EADS acquires Vizada for its Astrium Division". EADS. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
- ↑ "Taide Network rebrands to Vizada Networks". Goliath. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ↑ Comsys maritime vsat markets - 2nd edition
- ↑ "Telenor launches Marlink - to provide global mobile satellite communication services for the maritime sector". Telenor. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ↑ "Vizada global infrastructure". Vizada. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
- ↑ "Vizada: Vizada strengthens mobile satellite offering for Telecoms Sans Frontieres". Satellite Spotlight. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ↑ "Vizada". WGET Collaboration. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
External links
- (in English) Vizada official website
- (in English) Vizada Networks website
- (in English) Marlink website