COMSAT Mobile Communications (CMC), a business unit of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications (LMGT), announced a 3-year agreement to provide global Internet access systems to six Cunard Line and Seabourn Line ships. Equipment is currently being installed and full service for passengers and crew will begin on board all ships in the near future. Under the terms of the agreement, CMC is supplying 128 kbps C-Band and Internet access for each of the six ships and will permit simultaneous transmission of large amounts of data for Web browsing.

The systems being installed provide one of the most advanced shipboard satellite communications solutions available today with the highest reliability in the industry. This solution increases onboard communications capacity and provides automated high-speed Internet access so both passengers and crew have greater access to e-mail to keep in touch with home, family, friends and the office. Passengers and crew can use the online services to obtain financial information and view e-commerce sites. Passengers and crew can also access the Cunard and Seabourn homepages that deliver free information about daily activities and services offered onboard.

Another key feature to this service agreement is simplified billing. The system's flexible billing platforms give passengers the ability to use their onboard identity card to apply Internet usage charges to their ship portfolio or to a major credit card. The feature makes billing and payment simple and easy to understand.