MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) announces that it has signed an agreement with Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines, an international shipping company based in Norway, to outfit its entire fleet of ships, Balmoral, Boudicca, Black Watch, and Braemar, with MTN's state-of-the-art VSAT equipment and services providing global, reliable broadband connectivity.

"At Fred.Olsen, we strive to offer our passengers with reliable, high-quality products and services," said Ian Watson, cruise systems manager for Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines. "As the clear market leader in cruise ship satellite communications, MTN provides superior services with faster connectivity, excellent quality of communications, and unmatched service support throughout the globe. We are confident that this new service will totally satisfy the requirements of our passengers wherever they are cruising."

Under the agreement, MTN will provide services such as OceanPhone calling, StreamXcel, a bandwidth optimization service, toll-free inbound line dialing service for passengers and crew, and credit card processing. Installations on the Black Watch have been completed with scheduled rollouts for the rest of the fleet over the next few months.

"Fred.Olsen joins the growing number of cruise shipping companies that depend on MTN's seamless worldwide coverage, high network reliability, and unique service offerings tailored to the needs of today's cruising passengers," said Brent Horwitz, senior vice president, MTN cruise and ferry business. "We currently have more than 90 percent of the world's major cruise ships under contract for our VSAT services."

MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) is the global service provider of communications, connectivity and content services to remote locations around the world. MTN's maritime VSAT solutions and global satellite communications network offers the reliability that only "Always On - Always Available" systems can provide.