ST. JOHN, Jersey, Channel Islands & MIAMI - Tuesday, January 15th 2013 [ME NewsWire]
O3bMaritime will be the only satellite system capable of enabling cruise line guests and crew broadband services on par with onshore telecommunication standards.
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- O3b Networks has signed a second historic, multi-year deal with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to provide high-speed satellite-delivered broadband service aboard one of the world’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ships, Allure of the Seas. More than 8,000 guests, staff and crew members traveling the Caribbean will connect at fiber-like speeds at sea.
Royal Caribbean was the first to enlist O3b’s new maritime offering O3bMaritime aboard, Allure of the Seas’ sister ship, Oasis of the Seas when they signed a contract last summer. Now guests and crew aboard Allure of the Seas will be able to enjoy lightning fast download speeds and performance that is anticipated to also be four times more responsive than existing and planned GEO satellite systems. O3bMaritime will be the only satellite system capable of enabling cruise line guests and crew broadband services on par with onshore telecommunication standards.
“Cruise ship guests expect the same quality voice and Internet services they experience on land. We are proud to be the first cruise line to offer guests and crew aboard our innovative Oasis class of ships connectivity services that are in a league of their own” said Bill Martin, Chief Information Officer for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. “This latest agreement underlines our confidence in O3b Networks and the game-changing level of connectivity it is set to provide aboard our ships.”
"Through these agreements, O3b Networks and Royal Caribbean will soon be delivering more bandwidth than is currently available on all cruise ships combined in the Caribbean, making O3b the outright market leader", said Steve Collar, CEO, O3b Networks. “The partnership between O3b Networks and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. continues to expand, and the real winners are the guests and crew aboard the most innovative ships at sea. The alliance is based on a shared mission built on the belief that the Internet should always be within reach – on land and at sea.”
About O3b Networks Ltd.
O3b Networks Ltd. is a global satellite service provider building a next-generation satellite network for telecommunications operators, Internet service providers, enterprise and government customers in emerging markets. The O3b system will combine the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber‐optic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low‐cost, high‐speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. O3b Networks’ investors are SES, Google, Liberty Global, HSBC Principal Investments, Northbridge Venture Partners, Allen & Company, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Sofina, Satya Capital and Luxempart. O3b Networks is headquartered in St. John, Jersey, Channel Islands.
About Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisières de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture. Together, these six brands operate a combined total of 41 ships with four under construction. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 460 destinations on all seven continents. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebritycruises.com, www.azamaraclubcruises.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.cdfcroisieresdefrance.com, www.tuicruises.com, or www.rclinvestor.com.
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This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the issuer and that will contain detailed information about the issuer and management, as well as financial statements. The company does not intend to register any part of the present offering in the United States.
Contacts
O3b Networks Ltd.
Vicki Warker, VP, Marketing, +1-202-340-7120
Vicki.Warker@o3bnetworks.com
www.o3bnetworks.com
or
Royal Caribbean International
Tracy Quan, Director, Brand Communications
tquan@rccl.com
www.royalcaribbean.com