In planning our epic, sailing around the world adventure, I was wondering how we would be able to work while out at sea (sailing). Like many younger cruisers who are not yet retired nor independently wealthy, we need to work. I did a lot of research about what options are available now and what internet services are being planned. I shared the results and current costs and was extremely encouraged by what I learned.
So, Can You Get Low Cost High Speed Internet in the Middle of the Ocean (while sailing)? Although internet access is available in the middle of the ocean through satellite technology, which allows small text files to be sent and weather reports and satellite weather images to be updated, low cost, high speed internet is not yet available, but companies like Space X (Elon Musk) and OneWeb (Richard Branson) are in a race to provide it and are already sending up new satellites and expect to have a world wide low cost high speed network by 2021. That’s right around the corner and very exciting for full time cruisers and voyaging sailors!
Current Internet Speeds From Satellite
Internet speeds available through current satellite technology are around 2.5 KB per second (Kbps) go 384 Kbps. At these incredibly slow speeds (the old fashioned dial-up internet speeds were much faster), the Sat Phone Devices like Iridium Go are good for sending texts and making satellite calls, but will not allow searching the internet as the speeds are much too slow.
Iridium Go and Similar Devices
The Iridium Go is a device the size of the old pagers (beepers). You can hold it in your hand. It allows data and voice access through satellite technology. It sends a wifi signal similar to a home wireless internet router and allows access to up to five devices like Android, I-phones, tablets and computers, so you can send and receive texts and make voice calls from your personal device.
ISAT-HUB is another satellite hot spot device similar to Iridium Go. It allows data transfers up to 384 Kbps and the service is provided by Inmarsat, another popular satellite service provider. This device allows up to 11 wireless devices to connect to it and like the Iridium Go, it also allows you to turn your cellular phone into a satellite phone.
Predict Wind
Weather apps like predict wind are important for sailors and on a crossing is accessed through satellite technology like the Iridium Go. Predict Wind allows you to set up your starting and ending coordinates while you are near land, then allows updates (via satellite) based upon your location in deeply compressed files. This is a must have feature for sailors or boaters on a crossing, allowing updated weather reports (real time) while out at sea.
The Predict Wind App provides weather forecasts, wind forecasts, cloud forecasts, wave forecasts and recommended sailing paths based on four different weather models using a sophisticated algorithm preloaded with details about your boat. A catamaran will sail differently than a monohull and a cruising cat will sail differently than a performance cat, so by having your boat details uploaded ahead of time, the routing is much more accurate.
Texting Costs Via Sat
Current costs for services available are reasonable, assuming you are only sending texts and not trying to send large data files.
Iridium Go and Predict Wind
The Iridium Go programs like Predict Wind are offering programs for around $140 per month for unlimited data and provide up to 150 voice data minutes per month. The voice data plan is limited and if you go over the 150 allowable monthly minutes, rates are $1.09 per minute. Although the unlimited data plan is not very expensive, the internet is very limited and uses current satellite phone technology. The Iridium Go sells for $700 to $1,000 (for the Predict Wind package).
Inmarsat and ISAT-HUB
The costs of the Inmarsat Satellite Service used on the ISAT-HUB is $199 per month and includes 100 MB of internet data each month ($3.50 per each additional MB), 99 cents per minute for satellite calls (free incoming calls, but the caller will be billed by its phone company), and 50 cents per outgoing SMS text. The hotspot device sells for around $1200.
About Space X (and Google)
Space X, located in Hawthorne, CA is the company founded by Elon Musk (also the founder of Tesla) in 2002 with the purpose of space exploration and a goal of colonizing Mars and making space travel easier. Space X provides a service of launching satellites into space via its proprietary rockets.
Space Race – Space X Launches 60 Satellites
Space X is in a race with other companies like OneWeb to revolutionize wireless internet. Starlink launched its first 60 satellites in May of 2019 and have received positive feedback on speed and latency tests.
Starlink by Space X
The Space X (Starlink) goal is a worldwide, low cost, high speed internet structure. It will be provide via 4,425 low altitude, refrigerator sized, satellites that will provide coverage throughout the world – even in remote areas. The technology will speed up satellite internet speeds over current satellite internet speeds because the satellites will be orbiting at much lower altitudes than current satellites.
Low Altitude Satellites
Lower altitudes require more satellites to maintain coverage, but because they are lower, the data doesn’t have to travel as far and speeds will be much faster. Google is backing Elon Musk’s Space X and has already invested one billion dollars into the project that is projected to cost ten billion dollars.
About OneWeb (Richard Branson and Masayoshi Son)
OneWeb, like the name implies, is working on its version of one internet company, providing low cost, high speed service to everyone around the globe. OneWeb is a start-up company that Richard Branson from Virgin Airways and Masayoshi Son, one of the most wealthy persons in Japan have heavily invested in.
OneWeb Launch
OneWeb has already started by launching its first six satellites in February of 2019, with 650 more planned in the next two years. One web has already started communicating with the six satellites and is developing its technology. The launch is only the first phase into a full satellite communications service business. They will start full customer demos in 2020 with full internet services being ready in 2021. That is right around the corner.
OneWeb is launching its satellites into space from French Guiana by a private company called Arianespace. Softbank (Masayochi Son) and Virgin Group (Richard Branson) have already invested 2 billion dollars into OneWeb. The total investment will be similar to Space X’s of around 10 billion dollars.
OneWeb Customers
OneWeb also announced it had signed its first two commercial customers for its coming Internet service—Talia, which provides satellite connectivity in Africa and the Middle East, and European telecommunications carrier Intermatica.
How Will the New Satellite Techology be Different
The new satellite technology being developed by both OneWeb and Space X, for this new high speed world wide internet is different that the current satellite technology in a few ways. First, instead of satellites being launched into space at 22,000 miles up, the new satellites will only be orbiting at 750 miles in space. Second, because they are much closer, the satellites can be made much smaller – the size of a large refrigerator VS the size of a school bus and thus much less costly to manufacture. Next, because the satellites are smaller and closer, there needs to be much more of them and thus the reason that so many are required to complete the worldwide network. Finally, because the data has much less distance to travel, the speeds will be much faster.
Lower Prices and Better Coverage
The low cost, high speed internet availability will not only provide access to rural areas through the United States and around the world, it will also provide internet access virtually to every corner of the globe including the oceans. With one of the biggest challenges that cruisers face is being underfunded, having fast, reliable, low cost internet will open up a whole new opportunity for those that can work remotely just like the high speed on-land networks did for us remote workers about 10 years ago.
A Game Changer for Cruisers
This is a definite game changer and will open up access to those cruisers and voyagers who are now either tied to their desk jobs at home or limited to areas in marinas or where cellular data packages (near land) are currently available. It allows us to work while we sail instead of being stuck close to land. I know I am excited about this as it brings us one step closer to being able to work and sail.