Research report on the future of marine communication

Maritime communications is as diverse as the vessels that ply the seas.

Marine communication encompasses ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication, which is of significant interest for a ship’s navigation. This includes ship operation and cargo-handling.

An urgent requirement for sophisticated, secure and reliable marine communication products — including marine radio devices, marine multifunction displays (MFDs), automatic identification systems (AIS), vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and internet devices to effect high-end connectivity between land and sea — will propel the marine communications market size.

The global marine communications market is bound to experience a diverse growth over the forecast period of 2022 to 2032, owing to factors such as an inordinately high demand for broadband connectivity, mobile satellite services and small aperture terminal connectivity across the globe. The marine communication market is expected to develop at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8 per cent between 2022 and 2032.

Regionally, markets in the USA are expected to hover around a CAGR of 8.4% through 2022. Future Market Insights (FMI) has anticipated the USA to be one of the more established markets in the Americas through the forecast period.

Rich diversity of applications

Marine communications include a diverse range of applications such as: fishing boats/vessels, working vessels, merchant ships, recreation vessels and others. An uncompromising need for improving marine data communication to develop data operation efficiency, employee passenger interaction in the maritime industry and on-board security and surveillance is anticipated to bring growth to the marine communication market.

Enhanced satellite communications help to maintain modern ground communication standards to improve operational timeliness. Various vendors are developing sophisticated satellite systems to bring communication downtimes to a minimum and also address more geographical boundaries.

For example, Inmarsat, a global satellite communication vendor, offers a geostationary system that is equipped with four operational satellites. One is orbiting over, and covering, the Indian and Pacific Oceans; while two more are over the Atlantic Ocean, each providing intensive land and satellite communications with impressive market growth.

The defence sector in many countries is making significant progress in observing communications for self-governing and uninterrupted broadcast systems, while taking essential precautions to maintain two-way communication between participating vessels and offshore relay centres.

COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the global trading economy, with closures of maritime borders and workforce to prevent escalation of the pandemic. However, various governments across the globe are taking steps to install marine communication facilities for fast and authentic data transfer between land and ships. For instance, China launched its third maritime satellite into space that put into force high-precision environment monitoring.

Furthermore, an appetite for high-value entertainment content among crews and passengers has caused the marine communication delivery market to grow.

Growing demand for VHF

The VHF-enabled data exchange system is a universally recognised satellite navigation system for e-navigation. It enables safe navigation of the ship in its seafaring capacity, supported by efficient ship and shore operations. The cost-effective installation and richly diverse communications help in creating a demand in various countries across the globe.

Other indicators of the future orientation of the marine communications market include:

• marine satellite phones and internet devices segment to register growth of 10.9% during forecast period;
• merchant ships segment to register profound growth of 40.4% trailed by fishing boats/vessels segment;
• recreational boating to surge in popularity thus expanding progression of marine communication industry.
   

For further information the full report can be accessed here: Marine Communication Market Insights.

Aditi Basu, marketing head at Future Market Insights, a market research and consulting company headquartered in Dubai.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Alexey Seafarer