France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications has signed on as the first sales associate to offer the Connexion by Boeing maritime high-speed connectivity service to the commercial shipping industry, Boeing announced April 5.

Connexion by Boeing’s maritime service offers 2,000 minutes of connectivity, 100 minutes of voice service, and access to the Connexion by Boeing global live television lineup for $2,800 per month per ship. The satellite-based Internet service will provide downlink data rates of up to 5 megabits per second and uplink speeds up to 256 kilobits per second.

“We are delighted to further strengthen our wide range of mobile satcom services for high-end users, an essential factor in catering for the varied needs of maritime professionals,” Erik Ceuppens, CEO of France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications, said in a statement.

Connexion’s maritime service, which was unveiled in 2005, is offered via Ku-band capacity on Intelsat 705 and 706, which provide coverage across the mid-Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions. Boeing has signed an agreement with Teekay Shipping to be the launch customer for the maritime service.