Company History
Since the early 1990s, MTN has revolutionized communications at sea by providing innovative, value-add products and services to the maritime industry. To address the ever-increasing number of shipboard passengers and crew requiring “at home” amenities to stay connected to loved ones and friends while at sea, MTN continues to listen to its cruise line partners’ needs to deliver best-in-class technology and onboard connectivity solutions that make for a safer, easier, and more enjoyable passenger experience. Today, MTN commands a more than 80 percent market share of the world’s leading cruise ships.
From its beginnings in the cruise market and taking advantage of a heritage of innovation, MTN brought to market the first live broadcast at sea, the first stabilized VSAT system for commercial use, and the first onboard Internet café on a cruise ship. MTN was the first to partner with national cable networks to deliver leading world news and major events coverage and, in February 2010, brought to market the first multichannel global television network to cruise ships sailing around the world.
In recent years, MTN has sharpened its focus to service other vertical markets – commercial shipping, offshore energy, government, megayachts, and aviation. The strength and resilience of MTN’s global VSAT satellite network and deep industry knowledge in maritime VSAT naturally led to serving the large luxury yacht market, which has considerable demands for high-bandwidth satellite connections to support the critical voice and data traffic for yacht owners and their guests traveling in the most remote locations of the world. MTN offers a wide range of owner, crew, and passenger services such as crew calling, IPTV, Internet browsing, video teleconferencing, fixed and mobile phones, and other critical applications. Through innovation and dedication of providing best-in-class communications services, MTN has established a strong position in the yacht market, with more than 50 percent of the world’s largest private yachts relying upon MTN, including more than 75 percent of megayachts launched in 2010.
In 2009, MTN formed MTN Government Services (MTNGS), a subsidiary company headquartered in Leesburg, Virginia, that specializes in integrated communications services for military and government agencies. The MTNGS team consists of subject matter experts who work with soldiers in Afghanistan, nongovernment organizations for disaster relief and recovery efforts in areas such as Haiti, scientific research ships mapping the ocean floor for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and a host of other government agencies with mission-critical communications needs.
Additionally, MTN offers ship owners and managers in the commercial maritime and offshore energy industries a strong value proposition of wide-area coverage, high network reliability, responsive worldwide customer service, local field service and support, guaranteed bandwidth, crew welfare services, and predictable fixed monthly service plans to optimize operational costs and enable remote diagnostics for improved ships’ business.
Finally, with its deep industry knowledge and expertise of architecting, building, and managing a true global network, MTN is leveraging its true global managed VSAT satellite network to provide land-to-air-to-ground connectivity for commercial aircraft.
