TBSc said it is reselling its capacity on the IS 10-02 spacecraft, located at the 1 degree West orbital slot, to allow Marlink to meet the future requirements of its maritime customers in the Nordic, European and Middle Eastern regions.

   TSBc also included an option in the contract that would allow Marlink to use the Ka-band payload of the new Thor 7 satellite, which is scheduled be operational in early 2014.

   In a statement Marlink CEO Tore Morten Olsen said the Thor 7 satellite would provide additional capacity to support increased demand anticipated from maritime customers in the coming years.

   “We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting which has helped us to develop a reliable and trustworthy VSAT service for our customers in these essential regions,” said Olsen. “Coverage extends from the busy sea lanes North of Norway to Northern Africa and the Middle East. When the new Thor 7 satellite comes online, Marlink will be one of the first to utilize this new frequency band.”