June 10, 2022
via email
Tom Sullivan
Bureau Chief, International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
Thomas.Sullivan@fcc.gov
Re: Earth Stations onboard Cruise Vessels
File Number: SES-LIC-20210803-01360
File Number: SES-LIC-20210803-01361
Dear Tom,
Early on during the COVID-19 pandemic we wrote to Commissioner Rosenworcel
(now Chairwoman Rosenworcel) to outline acute challenges facing the cruise
industry as a result of satellite internet service provider actions detrimental to the
health and safety of our quarantined crew and vessels at sea. With your intervention
and swift action, we restored connectivity to impacted vessels – allowing crew
members who were then confined to their quarters to reestablish communications
with family members as well as with the relevant maritime authorities and our
shoreside offices. We write today to respectfully request that you act expeditiously
and look favorably upon the pending application filed by SpaceX Services, Inc. and
referenced above.
Since we last worked together on the acute problems evident at the early stages of the
pandemic, our shoreside teams and onboard crew have worked tirelessly to bring our
fleet back to service. In doing so, we continue to experience the same structural
challenges and limitations in the satellite internet service provider industry that were
present at the onset of the pandemic. The increase in marine vessel operations –
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whether cargo, cruise, commercial or personal watercraft – as well as the technology
industry shift to cloud-based software solutions, has meant an increase in satellite
internet service demand. Yet the supply side of the satellite internet equation has
suffered from attrition, bankruptcies and consolidation. This challenging landscape
has resulted in negative guest experiences onboard, with bandwidth constraints that
have slowed our desired business advancements.
In short, during these past two years, the satellite internet service provider landscape
has been largely static both in terms of capacity and innovation. As we return our
fleet to full strength and look to grow our business through new and more innovative
ships with larger and more reliable bandwidth demands, we are eager for more
innovative competition in what is largely a stagnant internet service provider market.
We know that additional entrants in the satellite internet service provider space will
benefit the cruise industry at large as well as other industries such as airlines.
Because of the geographically dispersed nature of our operation, as well as the
bandwidth demands of the tens of thousands of guests and crew who are onboard
with us at any given time, we face the same challenges of a shoreside hospitality
industry: an operation that needs to be connected all the time for our business and
guests that expect connectivity and connectivity-enabled experiences equal to what is
found shoreside. These challenges require a next generation solution in the
marketplace.
Working with SpaceX Services, Inc., we believe we have identified a true next-
generation solution for our vessels that meets the rigorous technical and operational
requirements commensurate with our growth plans. We believe our work with
SpaceX, the first of its kind in the cruise industry will set the standard for other cruise
operators and will mean a leap in terms of guest experience and business operations
while at sea. For this reason, we are eager to advocate for new market entrants to
drive a marketplace innovation step change. We again urge you that you act
expeditiously and look favorably upon the pending application filed by SpaceX
Services, Inc. referenced above.
Thank you again for all your work at the Commission. I invite you to reach out to me
at your convenience so that I may help answer any questions you may have.
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Respectfully,
/s/ John Maya
John Maya
Vice President, Operational Excellence
Royal Caribbean Group
