You will read within this issue many opinions about the Monaco Yacht Show 2016, both good and bad. Well, it was our 19^th year at the Monaco Show, and we had our busiest time ever as we are directly involved with the most disruptive new technology at the Show.

 

Yacht Communications evolving to HYBRID

 

Our focus was on our HYBRID Communications Solution, of which the new disruptive technology forms a part. We were illustrating how yacht communications are evolving to synchronise land and satellite communications, thus providing a solution with global coverage, that is faster and less expensive than just a solitary VSAT satellite solution with 100% connectivity. HYBRID includes every other service including IT, security, TV and support, to name some of the key features. What caught everyone’s attention was that we were offering all of this for a single monthly figure with no other costs to pay during the year, making sure that the yacht’s operational expenditure for everything to do with communications is known in advance, preventing any nasty surprises when the bill arrives.

 

Our Exhibiting Partners at the Show

 

This year we were supported at Monaco by two of our recommended satellite service provider partners, Speedcast and Panasonic. We had a VIP table with Speedcast sponsoring the ACREW lounge this year, which was a first. The location at the Rascasse was fantastic as it is extremely well known. ACREW also did a great job.

Panasonic and Kymeta were with us on our booth in the Darse Sud this year and we were also in the Virage Restaurant, which was the last minute host for the Super Yacht Group Owners’ VIP Lounge.

 

We spent some months planning to set up the first public demonstration of the radical new Kymeta satellite panels in Europe at the Monaco Show. This required a huge joint effort and, even with the challenging last minute change in venue of the VIP lounge from the Joseph Restaurant to the Virage, we were able to offer a hugely successful demonstration of this disruptive technology.

 

 

The disruptive Kymeta satellite flat panels caused a “buzz” at Monaco

Kymeta Corporation, the company delivering the promise of global, mobile connectivity, released this report about our demonstration at Monaco.

 

“The company realised impressive data rates of 65 Mbps down and 6 Mbps up. Kymeta also demonstrated an unprecedented 2.9 dB additional gain when combining two Kymeta^® mTenna^® antenna subsystem modules (ASMs). Having already demonstrated mobile satellite tracking and logging over 50,000 kilometres of connected driving mounted in the roof of a Toyota 4Runner across the USA, this achievement represents another major milestone for the company, which is poised to begin pilot production in December 2016.

 

The demonstration was a stunning example of what will be possible beginning in Q2 2017. The two Kymeta mTenna^® ASMs simultaneously received eight live Panasonic multicast eXTV channels, performed multiple live Skype video sessions, multiple HD and Ultra HD Netflix video sessions, and provided Wi-Fi access to an average of 80 users at any one time during the show. The demonstration also confirmed the low-power consumption of the Kymeta mTenna® technology, drawing only 12 watts of power per ASM.

 

“We are laying a strong foundation for our maritime market launch and it is exciting to share these results with our partners and customers,” said Håkan Olsson, vice president of Maritime, Kymeta. “The demonstration of the maritime product throughout the Monaco Yacht Show will be closely followed by further product testing on various vessel types in December and continue in early 2017, together with e3 Systems, through commercial availability in Q2 2017.”

 

The following lists the impressive results which were achieved using just two combined Kymeta mTenna^® ASMs which are less than 6cm thick:

• Data rates of 65 Mbps down and 6 Mbps up: Connected to Panasonic’s satellite network, Kymeta consistently delivered more than 12 times the Netflix recommended speeds for HD streaming.
• Kymeta combiner providing 2.9 dB additional Rx gain: Combining two Kymeta mTenna^® ASMs provided unsurpassed 2.9 dB additional Rx gain. The combiner is designed to unite up to 64 Kymeta mTenna^®
• Ability to multi-task high-bandwidth applications: Kymeta’s mTenna ASMs showcased the ability to handle multiple high-bandwidth applications at once by receiving eight live TV channels, multiple Skype sessions, multiple Netflix video streaming sessions in HD, and more than 80 Wi-Fi users, simultaneously.
• mTenna^® technology requires only 12 watts of power, per ASM: The metamaterials-based satellite mTenna^® ASM draws power levels similar to that of an LED light bulb.
• Hand-carry ease: All equipment was hand-carried by individual employees and required no costly equipment to lift and place system components.
• Ease of set up: Connection to the satellite was established each day in a fraction of the time it takes to install and set up a traditional stabilised antenna.

 

 

Partner Ecosystem Supports Pre-orders

Beyond Kymeta mTenna^® ASM performance, the company and its partners including Panasonic, iDirect, Intelsat, Intellian, and e3 Systems form the ecosystem that will support the mTenna technology deployment.

 

“Several of the world’s most iconic yachts have now signed up for the Kymeta mTenna technology as a direct result of the successful demonstration in Monaco, with many other commitments from super yacht owners and designers expected to take place over the next few months. We are excited to begin pilot production in December 2016 and launch commercially in 2017,” said Olsson.

 

Kymeta has built an ecosystem of partners to deliver the mTenna technology to the maritime industry.

• Intelsat is a primary satellite provider partner for satellite bandwidth.
• The Monaco demonstration leveraged the Panasonic satellite network for high-speed internet access and highlighted Panasonic’s eXTV service.
• Kymeta partnered with iDirect by using an iDirect 9350 modem during the show.
• Intellian is a key maritime integration partner for the Kymeta mTenna technology.
• e3 Systems, a leading yacht communications specialist, is already working with a number of owners and management companies to bring the Kymeta mTenna technology to the yacht market including taking many on-site orders as a result of the successful demonstration.

 

“Several shipyards and top marquee yacht designers approached us interested in being the first to integrate Kymeta’s flat-panel antennas into their new builds. We have taken pre-orders during the show which will allow yacht owners, captains, and management companies to secure early delivery of Kymeta solutions,” said Roger Horner, managing director, e3 Systems.”

 

Interested? Let us know. We have been appointed as the Kymeta Certified Partner (KCP) for the initial delivery to the yacht market.

 

Pilot production for the Kymeta mTenna^® ASM begins December 2016 with planned commercial availability of this product in Q2, 2017. Yacht owners, designers, management companies, captains and crew interested in trials or deployment can learn more by contacting us on info@e3s.com , Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and web www.e3s.com. Tel: +34 971 404 208

 

 

Roger Horner of e3 Systems