FleetBroadband from Inmarsat (News - Alert) is the first maritime communications service to offer inexpensive broadband data and voice, at the same time, with the help of a compact antenna on a global basis. It provides up to 432kbps over a shared channel, for e-mail, internet and intranet access and guaranteed data rates on demand up to 256kbps.

Recently, the company announced that it had reached 30,000 active FleetBroadband terminals in service.

According to the company, this milestone was achieved by Inmarsat's distribution partner OTESAT-Maritel with the deployment of a FleetBroadband 500 on Olympic Future, which is a Greek-flagged crude oil tanker.  Also, as part of a combined communications solution developed by OTESAT-Maritel, Springfield Shipping, the vessel's management company, has selected FleetBroadband.

The company’s FleetBroadband allows users to make phone calls at the same time as accessing data applications. It also supports ISDN at 64kbps for legacy applications along with the ability to send and receive text messages, the company stated in a press release.

Frank Coles, president of Inmarsat Maritime, said, "This is a significant achievement that yet again demonstrates the high regard and continued demand for FleetBroadband in the maritime industry.  We have now seen more than 4,000 terminals added to our FleetBroadband installed base since the beginning of the year.  Ship owners and managers are attracted to the global reach and reliability of FleetBroadband, and they value the high quality service that they receive from Inmarsat and our partners.”

In 2011, TMC (News - Alert) reported that even though the company had to face the effects of slowdown, in its maritime services revenue, it still posted solid third quarter earnings of $224.4 million. This was up nearly 18 percent from the previous year's Q3. The big news from the third quarter earnings report is the abrupt slowdown of its core maritime business.