Telenor Satellite Services announced March 28 the signing of a three-year communications agreement with British Petroleum (BP) for global broadband services over satellite.

Approximately 20 vessels are slated to use Telenor’s Sealink services by the end of 2006, and the contract establishes the terms and conditions for upgrading the communications systems of ships and production facilities, as well as the potential of providing very small aperture terminal (VSAT) equipment and services to BP’s entire fleet, which will surpass 80 deep sea vessels by the end of 2006, and several offshore rigs and land-based production facilities.

The contarct with Telenor is part of BP’s modernization and fleet expansion program. As part of this program, BP is providing all of the company’s vessels and production facilities with always-on voice and data communications for business operations as well as for crew morale and welfare.

Telenor will use teleport facilities in Norway and the United States to support the agreement.