Interview to Captain Paladini, from “Yachting in Costa Smeralda”, Summer 2007

Marino Paladini, captain of "Moneikos", flag megayacht of the Italian yachting, owned by a renowned entrepreneur, recently changed the onboard connection over to Eutelsat, through its operator Sitmar. We interviewed him, and he showed to be enthusiast about the new services. Captain, what made you make up your minds? Marino Paladini : «Everything. The improvements introduced are numerous and significant. Previously, connection was running at 100 kbps; you needed an exasperating lot of time to open a single web page, you had to wait for dozens of minutes to access weather report updates, and things like telemetry weren't even conceivable». And now? «Now, with broadband Internet, totally different prospects have opened up. The shipowner who needs to remain connected with his business even on the open sea can now operate timely and efficiently. Connection speed not only enables telemetry, real-time weather report service and free telephone connection via the computer, but it also allows for downloading films and music for the onboard audio-video system». Costs must have soared. «Not at all! With the old system, bills often exceeded a few dozens of thousands euro: fees were almost as high as 8 dollars a minute, and – due to the slow connection – minutes were countless. Instead, the new system includes a flat-rate subscription, and monthly costs become many times lower. The system is virtually paid off thanks to the savings on two bills». Paradise, for those who love surfing at sea and in cyberspace at the same time. «Not only. There are other services which we have chosen and which are really precious: Wi-fi, VoIp, GSM portability on board, worldwide roaming through VSat. Offering our guests the chance to connect without moving from their cabins or while they are sunbathing, or ensuring that they are constantly reachable on their mobile phones instead of on a satellite phone whatever… all this generates an evident added value. And all this, thanks to the roaming service, at Porto Cervo or at the Caribbeans, sailing along Brazil or Indonesia. In a paradise, but in touch with one's own world ».

Eutelsat Standard-M characterization of ISA75
(http://www.eutelsat.com/satellites/pdf/Earth-Station-Vessels.pdf)

Rome, march 15, 2009

SITMAR is proud to inform that our ISA75 maritime mini-VSAT has just officially obtained the important Eutelsat Standard-M characterization.
This is matter of real pride for us and for all those who’ve spent most of their past 18 months working at this difficult project.

The ISA 75 project is born at the beginning of 2007 with the goal to go to notch up a market foreseen in great growth (broadband@sea), that saw and still sees two only major operators: the American Seatel and the Israeli Orbit. These two maritime VSATs are (were) the only ones with which is possible to sell Eutelsat airtime.
It is not to underestimate also the fact that the ISA 75 is the first maritime VSat who’s concept departs from the Eutelsat technical specifications (Eutelsat EESS 502) for maritime stations and it’s not, as many others including Seatel, a VSAT derived by a pre-existing television antenna.
The ISA 75 project proposed itself since the beginning to face the market with the strength of the following three main characteristics:

- To be small (75 cms of diameter of the dish)

- To be light (below 35 kg, radome included, with notable savings also for installation)

- To be economic (price around 25.000 euros)

Furthermore ISA75 is completely an Italian product and we believe this fact will simplify a lot the things in a market very focused on the production of this country.

For further info and details about SITMAR products and services please visit our website www.sitmar.it, or contact us at: info@sitmar.it.