Satellite Internet for Boats… Yes, You Need It!

Mobile internet for boats is a thing, and it’s crucial for any luxury craft, service vessel, oil rig, etc.

It’s a mistake to think the guests on your boat don’t want to stay connected. And it’s an even bigger mistake to think that the boat itself doesn’t need mobile internet. This service has come a long way since the days of slow, dial-up connections that go dead the moment you pull away from the dock. There’s a new satellite internet service called VSAT and it’s the best mobile internet for boats. Let’s look at this service and the reason why you need it on your boat.

VSAT: What it is for Boat Owners

The word VSAT – pronounced “vee-sat” – is a technical acronym. It means “very small aperture terminal.” For the purpose of this blog post, VSAT is the same things as saying “satellite internet for boats,” or “mobile internet for boats.” It delivers an internet connection to boats up to 100 miles out to sea. Granted, its speeds are a bit slower than land-based internet, as is the “click time,” aka latency. But VSAT is still fast enough to stream in most cases.

Our Signal Connect division offers the best mobile internet plans to boat owners, yacht brokers, and workboat companies. We do the same for oil platforms and marinas. There are two reasons to get VSAT on your boat:

1. VSAT is Boat Safety

That makes it a necessity for your boat, oil rig, or marina. It can get rough in and around the water in a matter of seconds. An Internet connection gives you weather forecasts and other up-to-the-minute information. This keeps you ahead of any storms that might be on the horizon. Simply put, VSAT on your ship, boat, or even marina might save lives on the high seas, big rivers, and the Great Lakes. Remember, safety first!

2. VSAT = Entertainment on the Water

Guests on a luxury cruise are having too much fun to bother checking texts and emails, right? Wrong! People take their phones with them all the time because they have an expectation to stay connected everywhere they go. They also expect to be entertained away from home. Satellite internet, aka VSAT,
keeps your guests and crew connected to work, family, and everything else.

Whether they’re texting a loved one back home or streaming their favorite show, VSAT lets them do this. It even works 50 miles offshore! You can’t say the same thing for options from just a few years ago. So yes, chalk reliable entertainment up as the other very important reason you need satellite internet on your boat or fleet.

Who’s the Best VSAT Dealer in the US?

Signal Connect, of course! We offer a single point of contact for boat owners, captains, and yacht brokers. It’s the same for workboat companies. We offer the internet packages, and we partner with these top companies to deliver the hardware to bring this service to you:

  • Intellian: manufacturer of mobile satellite dishes and VSAT equipment.
  • iDirect: maker of below-decks units for Intellian VSAT antennas.
  • Viasat: antenna maker and BDU.

These partnerships make it possible for nearly every boat to have internet. We also make it possible to include this satellite internet service with DIRECTV on your boat. Your guests and crew will love the reliability and at-home experience this satellite TV service delivers. Our Signal Connect squad can put together a package that bundles DIRECTV and VSAT services. They also can outfit your vessel with cellular boosters for optimal cell phone coverage.

Contact Signal Connect for More Info

Signal Connect has plenty of experience working with the marine industry. We offer a variety of program packages to suit your needs, and our team provides you with a quote with no hidden costs. We even find an installer in your area to do the job. The easiest way to talk to us is by calling 888-233-7563. You also can fill out the form below and send it to us. A Signal Connect rep will be in touch!

About the Author

Jake Buckler
Jake Buckler is a cord-cutter, consumer electronics geek, and Celtic folk music fan. Those qualities, and his writing experience, helped him land a copywriting gig at Signal Group, LLC. He also contributes to The Solid Signal Blog.