From VSAT to Starlink, OneWeb and 5G: Vessel Connectivity Upgrade and Network Rebuild in Rotterdam

On 24 and 25 September 2026 Satcenter replaced the legacy VSAT system on a vessel in Rotterdam with three new connectivity paths: Starlink, an Intellian OW10HM terminal for OneWeb and a KVH TracNet Coastal 5G antenna. Because the vessel's onboard network was not ready for the new system, our engineer also rebuilt the LAN, separated the crew and business networks and set up Wi-Fi and VoIP telephony.

Project overview

The vessel previously relied on an Intellian V100 VSAT antenna. The owner chose to replace it with low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite services and a coastal 5G link, managed by a KVH CommBox Edge that switches between the available connections.

No pre-installation had been done and no detailed job scope was available, and the previous crew had removed most of the IT equipment. Our engineer therefore assessed the vessel on arrival and adapted the installation to the conditions found on board. The work was completed over two attendances.

Scope of work

Decommissioning the old VSAT system

The existing Intellian V100 antenna was removed, together with the old communications rack and its equipment. A new rack was installed on the bridge, and all supplied below-deck equipment was mounted and secured inside it: the Starlink router, the Intellian OneWeb terminal, the KVH CommBox Edge and new network switches.

Installing three antennas on the monkey island

All three new antennas were installed on the monkey island:

• Starlink as a high-speed LEO connection
• Intellian OW10HM for OneWeb
• KVH TracNet Coastal 5G for 4G/5G connectivity near the coast and in port

The existing mount was not suitable for the 5G antenna, so the vessel's fitter fabricated a new pedestal to our specification on the first day, and the antenna was installed on it.

Cable routing

Before any cable was pulled, the available routes were inspected. The existing LMR-400 coaxial cable and connector were in good condition and were reused for the Intellian OneWeb antenna, which saved time and material. New cables were needed for Starlink and the 5G antenna and were routed through an existing gooseneck pipe, so no new deck penetration was required.

The Cat6A cable supplied for the 5G antenna turned out to be too short for the selected position. On the second attendance our engineer replaced it with a new Cat7 cable, terminated both ends and connected it to the 5G below-deck unit. No power supply had been delivered for that unit, so a 24V DIN-rail PSU was installed in the rack, with the power cables terminated on cable lugs for a secure connection.

KVH CommBox Edge and WAN configuration

The KVH CommBox Edge was installed in the rack and all WAN connections were connected according to the information from the owner's IT department. Remote access was set up so the IT team can manage the system from shore.

Rebuilding the onboard LAN

The inspection showed that the vessel's LAN had been built as a chain: deck locations were connected to each other rather than each having its own cable back to a central switch. There were also not enough switches on board for the PCs, printers and access points. Our engineer explained the situation to the IT department and, with their agreement, collected the extra switches and cabling from the Satcenter warehouse.

For the business network, the existing RJ45 wall outlets in the cargo control room serving the ECR, Chief Engineer, Master, Chief Mate and bridge were identified and connected to a new switch. Additional switches were installed on the bridge, in the Master's cabin and in the ECR, and the bridge switch now connects the PCs and printers. A spare switch was left on board.

Crew Wi-Fi

For the crew network, the Wi-Fi access points on the different decks were connected to a dedicated PoE switch, keeping crew traffic separate from the business network. An extra access point was installed on the bridge for the navigation laptop. Read more about this kind of work on our maritime IT services page.

VoIP phones

Two VoIP phones were configured with the supplied DID numbers, one on the bridge and one in the Master's cabin. Both were tested with incoming and outgoing calls and clear audio.

Testing and handover

After installation, each WAN connection was tested on its own: Starlink, OneWeb and KVH Coastal 5G. Internet access was then checked through the new network on both the crew and the business side, and WAN failover was tested, including email, to confirm that traffic moves correctly between the internet sources. The Intellian app showed the OneWeb terminal online with a healthy link. Grounding, power, firmware and cable labelling were checked before handover, and the access details were handed over to the vessel and the IT department.

Result

• Intellian V100 VSAT system and old rack decommissioned
• Starlink, Intellian OW10HM OneWeb and KVH TracNet Coastal 5G installed and online
• new pedestal for the 5G antenna and reuse of the existing LMR-400 cable
• new rack with KVH CommBox Edge, remote access and WAN failover
• onboard LAN rebuilt with separate crew and business networks
• crew Wi-Fi on a dedicated PoE switch and two VoIP phones on the bridge and in the Master's cabin

Why a LEO upgrade is also a network project

Replacing a VSAT antenna with Starlink, OneWeb and 5G changes more than the hardware on the mast. A single router now has to manage several WAN links, separate crew and business traffic and fail over automatically, which only works if the LAN behind it is built correctly. On this vessel, the satellite part of the job took one day, while most of the remaining effort went into cabling, switches and network separation.

That is why Satcenter handles the antennas, the onboard network and commissioning as one job. For a comparable project on another vessel, see our OneWeb and Starlink installation with LTE backup in Rotterdam.

Planning to move from VSAT to LEO? Contact info@satcenter.tv or call +31 85 560 71 20, or use our contact form.