STOCKHOLM (dpa-AFX) - Swedish mobile network equipment maker Ericsson (ERIC) Thursday said it has signed a strategic maritime agreement with British satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat plc (ISAT.L). The deal is intended to facilitate the sharing of cargo, logistics and vessel operational data to help streamline the entire maritime supply chain.
The two companies will jointly develop services, solutions and applications to drive industry standards for satellite connectivity and application integration in the maritime industry.
As a first step, Ericsson has signed a distribution contract to offer XpressLink, Inmarsat's combined L-band and Ku-band VSAT network for the maritime market. It is intended that the distribution agreement with Ericsson will be extended to Fleet Xpress at that time.
The new strategic relationship will also pave the way for integration between Ericsson's Maritime ICT Cloud and global connectivity delivered over Inmarsat's satellite communications network.
Ericsson will provide U-Ming Marine, a leading shipping company specializing in the transportation of cement, dry commodities and industrial raw materials, with end-to-end connected vessel and voyage optimization solutions, including satellite connectivity from Inmarsat.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX