On-Waves awarded fleet-wide contract with Compagnie du Ponant
Miami, (March 16th, 2010) — On-Waves Ehf, a leading maritime mobile services provider, announced today that it has been awarded a fleet-wide contract with the Compagnie du Ponant, which operates a five-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore the world’s most treasured destinations.
The agreement covers 5 ships: Le Ponant, Le Levant, Le Diamant, L'Austral and Le Boreal.
On-Waves services will enable seamless voice, SMS and data connectivity to guests using their home mobile phone numbers at sea. Guests will now be able to stay in touch with family, friends and business associates during their cruise. Further, On-Waves will provide a pre-paid GSM service tailored to the specific needs of crew.
On-Waves will also introduce a range of new innovative services, such as an on-board informational messaging platform and video distribution to GSM mobiles.
Stéphane Veuillot, Compagnie du Ponant Purchasing Manager, commented: “We are pleased to introduce this new, convenient service to our guests and crew. We are committed to deliver a consistent high-level of quality and customer service across all our ships. With On-Waves’ mobile services, we will offer our guests and crew the latest technology to enhance their comfort and experience on Ponant. Furthermore, On-Waves’ service provides an additional mean of personal communication that increase our guest and crew security at sea”
“This agreement is a milestone in the luxury cruise industry and we are proud to enter into this partnership with Compagnie du Ponant to deliver our mobile phone services to their guests”, said Constantin Simeonidis, CEO for On-Waves. “To have earned the trust of Compagnie du Ponant, a unit of the CMA-CGM Group, one of the leading firms in the maritime sector, is a great endorsement of the reliability of our maritime telecommunications service.
About On-Waves Ehf
On-Waves is the maritime GSM and CDMA service provider for Iceland’s national telephony provider, SIMINN, a company with 1,800 employees and over 500 GSM and CDMA roaming agreements. On-Waves has constructed a next generation all-IP maritime mobile phone network that is fully compliant with GSM Association and CDG maritime standards and regulations. On-Waves currently provides service to over 80 vessels across cruise, passenger ferry and mega-yachts segments with a significant backlog for additional vessels. On-Waves also offers its services to the merchant marine, offshore Oil & Gas and fishing industries to enhance crew welfare at sea.
About Compagnie du Ponant
The Compagnie du Ponant, with its head office in Marseilles (France), is a subsidiary of CMA CGM, the world's third largest container shipping company.
The company was created in April 1988. Le Ponant, a three-mast sailing ship built by the French Company of Shipbuilding (SFCN) according to plans drawn by Michel BIGOIN (also the designer of "Le Phocea") was delivered in May 1991.
Another important stage in the history of the Compagnie du Ponant was the introduction of a new ship, Le Levant, whose construction began in December 1996. Le Levant was delivered in November 1998 and inaugurated by Mrs Bernadette CHIRAC (wife of former French President Jacques CHIRAC). Le Levant is an upscale 100-meter long yacht with 45 outside cabins. In 2004, the Company acquired the 124-meter Le Diamant. Le Diamant is an expedition ship, designed to reach the polar destinations. That same year, the Company acquired the Parisian Tour-Operator, Tapis Rouge International, specialized in luxury travel.
Today, the Compagnie du Ponant is the number one ranked French-flag cruise line.
www.ponant.com
Contact:
On-Waves Ehf
info@on-waves.com
