Vizada

Vizada is a worldwide satellite communications services provider which operates land earth stations that connect satellite communications to terrestrial telecommunications and IP networks. Vizada provides both mobile and fixed satellite telecommunications to a wide array of markets including merchant shipping, defense and government, fishing and yachting, oil & gas, mining, and non-governmental organizations. The product offering covers maritime, land and aeronautical services. In 2011, the Vizada Group was acquired by EADS, to be integrated as a subsidiary of Astrium.[1]

Vizada Group
TypePrivate
IndustryCommunications satellite operators
HeadquartersParis, France
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsMobile and fixed satellite services
OwnerEADS Astrium
SubsidiariesVizada, Vizada Networks, Marlink
Websitevizada.com

History

Vizada has a rich history which stems from the acquisitions and reorganizations of several leading global telecommunications entities including France Telecom and Telenor, as well as vertically-specialized company such as Sait Communications and TDCom

1940s: the company has been involved in maritime communications since 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 United Nations and IMO with contribution of France, Norway and the US as founding member.

1991: The France Telecom group was the fifth largest shareholder in Inmarsat, the international maritime satellite provider.[4]

In 1991, 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 to 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 forms Vizada in 2007.[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 acquires 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 Satcom division.

Vizada Group

Vizada Group operates offices and Satellite gateways worldwide. It has three main 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 multiple satellite network operators through a network of 400 service provider partners.

These services are packaged with Vizada Solutions, designed to add business value to basic connectivity, and delivered through Vizada's global teleport network – five state-of-the-art satellite facilities strategically positioned around the world. Vizada works with the broadest 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 tailor-made 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 main offices are located in Oslo and Holmestrand in Norway.

Marlink is the world's largest 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 on board seabound vessels.

ProductTechnologyUseCoverage
PharostarVSATStandardized maritime service delivering unlimited access up to 6044 kbit/s for internet, email, VoIP and videoconferencingGlobal and regional coverage available
Custom VSAT NetworksVSATTailored 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 deliveryGlobal and regional coverage available
FleetBroadbandInmarsatMaritime service delivering simultaneous voice and data. Streaming up to 256 kbit/s.Global Coverage.
Fleet 77/55/33InmarsatMaritime service delivering voice, fax, ISDN data and Mobile Packet Data ServiceGlobal coverage for voice and spot coverage for data & fax
Inmarsat C/Mini CInmarsatMaritime service providing two-way data communicationsGlobal beam coverage
Inmarsat BInmarsatDigital maritime service delivering worldwide digital voice, fax and data communicationsGlobal beam coverage
Inmarsat Mini MInmarsatDigital maritime service providing voice, fax, and data communicationsSpot beam coverage
Iridium HandheldsIridiumSatellite telephones delivering voice, fax and data via optional data kit: 2.4 kbit/s, up to 9.6 kbit/s with direct internet servicePole-to-pole coverage
Iridium MaritimeIridiumMaritime service delivering voice, fax and data: up to 9.6 kbit/s with direct internet servicePole-to-pole coverage
Iridium OpenPortIridiumMaritime service delivering simultaneous voice and always-on internet access up to 128 kbit/s. Streaming video up to 128 kbit/sPole-to-pole coverage
Thuraya HandheldsThurayaSatellite telephone delivering voice, fax, GPS, data. Telephone integrating the satellite and the GSM connectivityRegional coverage in Europe, Africa & Asia
WaveCall SeaLinkVSATCustomized maritime service delivering access for internet, email, VoIP and business applicationsMulti-regional coverage

Land

Vizada provides land satellite communication products based on Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya technologies. Vizada also provides full broadband satellite solutions based on a customized VSAT network.

ProductTechnologyUseCoverage
BGANBGANMobile land based service delivering simultaneous voice and broadband data communications up to 492 kbit/s, video streaming up to 384 kbit/s and upGlobal coverage
Inmarsat GANInmarsatMobile land based service delivering voice, fax and data up to 64 kbit/sSpot beam coverage
ThurayaIPThurayaMobile land based service delivering broadband data communications up to 444 kbit/s, video streaming at up to 384 kbit/sRegional coverage in Europe, Africa & Asia
Inmarsat HandheldInmarsatSatellite telephones delivering voice servicesGlobal coverage
Iridium HandheldsIridiumSatellite telephones delivering voice, fax and data via optional data kit: 2.4 kbit/s, up to 9.6 kbit/s with direct internet servicePole-to-pole coverage
Thuraya HandheldsThurayaSatellite telephone delivering voice, fax, GPS, data. Telephone integrating the satellite and the GSM connectivityRegional coverage in Europe, Africa & Asia
Custom VSAT NetworksVSATTailored 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 deliveryGlobal 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 both in cockpit and cabin for voice communication, internet browsing, fax and file sharing.

ProductTechnologyUseCoverage
SwiftBroadbandInmarsatSimultaneous voice and data, Internet access up to 432 kbit/s and 64 kbit/s ISDN. Video streaming at up to 128 kbit/sGlobal coverage
SwiftInmarsatAeronautical 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+/IInmarsatRange 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 typeSolution nameDescription
Messaging ServicesSkyFile MailCompressed data transmission via email, e-fax and SMS; developed by Shamrock Software
SkyFile Anti VirusProtection from malicious software such as viruses, spyware etc.; based on the Sophos anti-virus engine
SkyFile WeatherCustomizable weather information, including high resolution images; using data from Météo France
SkyFile VideoCapture, compress, edit and transmit video files.
SkyFile AccessFree FTP space to exchange large files, webmail & web browsing.
SkyFile COptimized Inmarsat C and Mini C communications via specific land earth stations
Prepaid SolutionsUniversal CardPrepaid voice calling, SMS, email & web usage
Fixed2MobilebSatellite DirectAllows for satellite calls from any location to any satellite terminal.
Satellite Direct PlusAllows for highly cost-efficient fixed-to-mobile satellite calls.
IP & NetworkingTerralink Data ManagerAllows to set firewall-filters, administrate account profiles & select traffic priorities.
Terralink Data Manager LiveAllows to set firewall-filters, administrate account profiles & select traffic priorities as well as view traffic consumption in real-time.
InterconnectConnection between mobile satellite terminal to corporate network.
Business ToolsThe SourceOnline portal for management and control of end-user communications accounts.
Vizada XChangeVizada XChangeVizada's proprietary box and online interface for managing satellite communications services for the maritime industry.

Infrastructure

Land earth stations
Vizada's Aussaguel Land Station

Vizada operates 5 earth stations around the world that connect satellites to terrestrial networks.[12]

Earth StationCountryIn operation sinceInfrastructuresTechnologies supportedCoverage
Aussaguel France198037 acresInmarsat, Thruaya, Iridium and Vizada's solutionsAtlantic and Indian oceans
Eik Norway197610 acresInmarsat, VSAT MaritimeAtlantic and Indian oceans
Nittedal Norway1986-VSAT NetworksAfrica, Asia, Europe and eastern part of South America
Santa Paula United States197610 acresInmarsat, VSAT Maritime, DGPSAsia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Rim nations, the eastern Indian Ocean and the western North America
Southbury United States19756 acresInmarsat, VSAT Maritime, DGPSAtlantic 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're located in:

Partnership

Telecoms Sans Frontières
See also: Télécoms 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
  1. "EADS's Astrium Satellite Unit Buys Vizada to Build U.S. Presence, Services". Bloomberg. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  2. "Vizada Group". Vizada. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  3. "France Telecom Group". Funding universe. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  4. "Apax Acquires Telenor, Spins Off Vizada". Satellite Today. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  5. "EADS acquires Vizada for its Astrium Division". EADS. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  6. "Taide Network rebrands to Vizada Networks". Goliath. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  7. Comsys maritime vsat markets - 2nd edition
  8. "Vizada global infrastructure". Vizada. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  9. "Vizada: Vizada strengthens mobile satellite offering for Telecoms Sans Frontieres". Satellite Spotlight. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  10. "Vizada". WGET Collaboration. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
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