Can shipping afford to rely on a single satellite network?

The maritime connectivity conversation has centred on bandwidth. Faster satellite services, lower latency and the arrival of low Earth orbit constellations have transformed communications at sea. Yet as shipping adopts artificial intelligence, remote support and data-driven operations, another question is coming into focus: How can vessels stay connected wherever they trade without relying on a single network?

According to Dimitris Giouris, Co-founder and Owner of Kyma Technologies, which he co-founded with Milutin Nesic, the next phase of maritime digitalisation will rely less on individual satellite providers and more on the ability to use multiple networks as a single service.

“Simply relying on any single provider brings very many risks on a ship, whether it is geopolitically or there is not availability in some countries or simply a failure of connectivity,” he said. “Outside of maritime technology, you always look to have redundancy and that’s why one satellite network is not enough.”

Why bandwidth is no longer the industry’s biggest challenge

The rapid growth of LEO connectivity has given shipowners access to bandwidth that was difficult to achieve only a few years ago. That has opened the door to applications ranging from cloud services and live performance monitoring to crew welfare and remote technical support.

Giouris believes the challenge now lies elsewhere.

He argues that many operators still think in terms of choosing a single satellite provider, even though vessels regularly trade across regions with different coverage, regulatory environments and operational conditions. A service that performs well on one voyage may face restrictions or reduced availability elsewhere.

This is less about selecting the fastest network and more about ensuring that digital operations continue without interruption.

“The owner or a manager always tends to look first at cost before looking at the actual requirement on the ship,” he said, adding that resilience should form part of that calculation.

From hybrid connectivity to seamless connectivity

Hybrid connectivity is now widely discussed across the maritime sector, with many providers combining multiple satellite services. Giouris says that simply connecting different links together is only part of the answer.

He believes shipowners should be able to use different satellite and terrestrial networks through a single service rather than managing separate subscriptions for each provider.

“We are offering our Kyma Hybrid plans for fleet and vessels,” he explained. “You don’t have to commit to multiple subscriptions from all these vendors. A single subscription can be utilised by multiple vendors.”

That flexibility also extends to onboard internet access for seafarers. Rather than relying entirely on the owner’s monthly allowance, crew members can purchase additional connectivity through the same platform using familiar payment methods.

“With our Premium Option, he can buy the crew internet outside of the monthly subscription with his Android, with his iPhone, through Apple Pay, Google Pay or even PayPal or credit cards,” Giouris said. “There is no expiration date and he can choose to use the best connection on board.”

He believes this provides another step forward for crew welfare by giving seafarers greater flexibility without adding administrative work for ship managers.

Building resilience for AI and digital shipping

As AI applications become part of everyday ship operations, connectivity is expected to carry more operational traffic than ever before.

Giouris said AI systems require reliable access to network resources, making continuity just as valuable as bandwidth.

“If you look at your personal life, how much you’re using AI, whether it is for simple tasks in life or for more complex help, we always forget that this kind of AI also takes a lot of resources and internet bandwidth and the same is happening more or less on a ship,” he said.

Looking ahead, he expects shipping to adopt multiple satellite constellations rather than replacing one technology with another. Existing GEO systems still have value for many operators, particularly where equipment is already installed, while new LEO services expand the available options.

“I don’t like to talk about LEO versus GEO because all these networks complement each other,” Giouris said. “For us it’s good to have this as the choice of all networks for us to give the end customer what he needs, resilience and also multi redundancy.”

For shipowners investing in digital operations, the conversation may gradually move away from selecting a preferred satellite provider. The greater priority is ensuring that connectivity remains available whenever and wherever vessels need it, allowing digital services to operate consistently across the global fleet.

First published by Digital Ship. Read the original interview here.