Videoworks has successfully installed and tested Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO Technology on a 70-metre superyacht in Turkey.

Having an Internet connection as good as the connection enjoyed at home or in the office is the dream of every shipowner and all their guests. Not only does it mean enjoying shows and films on demand during leisure time, but it is also great for business, because yacht owners can manage a conference call in the middle of the ocean without having to return to port or interrupt their holiday.

The advent of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites has radically changed the on-board audio-video experience and Videoworks, with its 25 years of experience in the audio visual and lighting scene, was immediately ready for this new scenario, with the aim of being a unique and competent partner, from the satellite to the TV remote control.

Videoworks provides LEO Connectivity in the yachting industry thanks to Speedcast , an authorized Distribution Partner of OneWeb . The tests, initially carried out in the Ancona facility and, later, on board a 70-metre superyacht in Turkey, confirm the high efficiency and stability of the system.

The dynamic profile of the GT45 makes the yacht look to be in motion even at the dock. This is thanks to the “sleek arch and fin-shaped hardtop” says the designer, Enrico Gobbi

Turkey is a particularly complex area because it is not covered by other broadband satellite systems. Videoworks managed the installation and commissioning of the OneWeb system with a single Kymeta Peregrine U8 antenna. Three days of testing, with 11 streaming platforms active simultaneously, showed a constant performance of 100 megabits/sec in download and 20 megabits/sec in upload.

The OneWeb airtime service uses two hardware platforms, Kymeta Peregrine U8 and Intellian OW11FM, which are both flat units. The dual motorised solution with 70 cm disc is also available. Based on the antenna plan and the desired bandwidth and data capacity, the configuration can be based on single or double flat antenna. In addition to deploying technical skills, Videoworks advises customers on how to create tailor-made solutions as close as possible to the shipowners’ expectations.

OneWeb’s ambition is to produce professional maritime broadband solutions that can be adapted to the needs of superyachts at any latitude in the world. This global connectivity of the highest quality allows captains, crew and guests on board yachts to access, at sea, all the cloud-based applications now required for both business and leisure activities.

LEO technology has latencies similar to terrestrial 5G type communications, which simplifies the integration between different data sources and the delivery of a high bandwidth capacity and system fluidity. Unlike other LEO (Starlink) and 5G services, OneWeb offers a guaranteed minimum bandwidth regulated by the Service Level Agreement (SLA) and is a professional product for people seeking a stable and secure connection. 5G and Starlink are fully open networks, while OneWeb applies firewalls, hacker controls and security measures that guarantee its reliability and privacy, including when conversations are highly confidential.