Speedcast and Soya IT completed dual-LEO connectivity across 41 vessels

Speedcast and Soya IT Marine Solutions announced on Oct. 21, 2026 that they completed upgraded digital connectivity aboard 41 roll-on/roll-off vessels serving Wallenius Wilhelmsen. One source described the deployment as fleetwide, while the other described the rollout as one piece of a connectivity transformation program. Both sources treated the Oct. 21 announcement as a finished roll-on/roll-off fleet deployment, one that let the ships keep their shipping schedules without being taken out of service.

Starlink terminals from SpaceX combine with OneWeb capacity from Eutelsat in a dual-LEO network that runs traffic through Speedcast routing infrastructure to deliver low-latency broadband over two low Earth orbit satellite constellations. Low Earth orbit refers to satellite orbits relatively close to Earth, so signals travel shorter distances between ship and network. One of the sources identifies the same Starlink and OneWeb pairing as dual-LEO solutions inside a global WAN, or wide area network, linking distant sites for the customer.

Speedcast describes the result as a managed Wide Area Network, which links distant sites over long distances, combining high-throughput low Earth orbit constellations with resilient narrowband backups into one fleetwide service. Primary low Earth orbit links receive backup from Iridium Certus L-band transceivers, which use a radio frequency band for satellite links, and from LTE cellular modems for coastal operations. The sources say those backups maintain continuous oceanic connectivity across the fleet.

Remote commissioning did the entire upgrade, so vessels kept their shipping schedules and were never taken out of service. Crews brought hardware online under remote supervision after it reached ports, working around short port calls. Speedcast Project Management teams enabled the remote commissioning work through close collaboration.

With all 41 vessels upgraded, bridge teams maintained continuous access to cloud-based tools for enterprise management and navigation, and crew members received improved broadband during off-duty hours. Both bridge teams and crew benefit from the upgrades, and the sources note better streaming and social media applications for crew after hours. Managed enterprise software runs on the bridge.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen, described as the world’s largest Pure Car and Truck Carrier operator—a class of vessels built to carry wheeled cargo—keeps 125 vessels across 15 global trade routes. The 41 upgraded vessels represent roughly one-third of that fleet. Those ships serve the operator’s worldwide trade routes with the upgraded connectivity now in place.

Speedcast’s earlier hybrid network work included integrating Starlink high-throughput capacity, and that experience informed the current rollout. It also drew on SIGMA edge network management software, previously placed on commercial fleets, which manages network functions close to the vessels rather than from a central site. One source connects that past Starlink and SIGMA fleet work to the Wallenius Wilhelmsen rollout.

James Trevelyan, Speedcast’s executive vice president of global sales, said the partnership prepares vessels for the future, supports secure real-time data, improves operational performance, and enhances the onboard working environment.

Soya IT Marine Solutions gave technical and operational help for Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s fleet and worked with Speedcast Project Management teams on remote commissioning support. One source casts Soya IT as the operator’s connectivity transformation program delivery partner, while Speedcast supplies the global WAN and satellite services.