Satellite Communications for Oil & Gas Operations
Starlink, VSAT, Iridium Certus and push-to-talk for offshore platforms, drilling rigs, pipelines and remote well sites, designed with automatic failover so operations, safety systems and crews stay connected. Supplied, installed and supported by one partner since 1974.
Four things a remote energy site can't do without
Offshore platforms and onshore well sites sit far beyond fiber and cellular coverage. The satellite link carries operational data, safety communications and the crew's link home, so it has to be fast, secure and redundant.
Real-time operational data
Move drilling data, production reporting, video and remote-operations traffic to onshore teams with high-throughput, low-latency LEO links.
Safety & HSE
Satellite phones, SOS tracking and push-to-talk give HSE teams and field crews a voice channel that doesn't depend on site power or the main data link.
Crew welfare
Reliable Wi-Fi for video calls, streaming and e-learning on rotation helps with crew retention, with traffic shaping so business applications always come first.
Business continuity
Automatic failover between LEO, VSAT, L-band and 4G/5G means one outage, storm or obstruction doesn't take the site offline.
Connectivity for every part of the operation
Each site gets a design based on its location, power, bandwidth needs and safety requirements. These are the building blocks we use most.
Platforms, rigs & FPSOs
High-throughput primary link with an always-on backup, managed through one gateway, for production platforms, jack-ups and floating units.
- Starlink Maritime or OneWeb as primary
- KVH VSAT as a second path
- Iridium Certus L-band backup and voice
- Iridium GMDSS safety terminals
Drilling & well sites
Rugged terminals that deploy in hours for rigs that move, with site Wi-Fi for the office, the crew camp and contractors.
- Starlink Performance Gen 3 for harsh sites
- Local Priority plans for in-country sites
- Peplink 4G/5G and satellite bonding
- Iridium PTT for crew coordination
Pipelines & remote assets
Low-power satellite IoT for SCADA, tank, valve and wellhead monitoring, plus vehicle and lone-worker tracking along the route.
- Global Satellite SCADA Tracker
- GSatSolar solar-powered tracking
- Iridium SBD data solutions
- Teltonika Iridium telematics
Supply, crew & survey vessels
Vessel connectivity that works from port to field, with remote monitoring and CCTV for fleet operators.
Seismic crews & camps
Portable kits for exploration, surveying and temporary camps, with rental options so you pay only for the length of the campaign.
- All-Day Satellite Emergency Kit
- Thuraya IP NEO portable broadband
- Starlink rentals
- Satellite phone rentals
Incident response & backup
Communications for well control, spill response, evacuations and hurricane season, when terrestrial networks fail.
- Iridium Extreme emergency package
- Iridium Extreme PTT handsets
- Icom IC-SAT100M vehicle and base PTT
- Satellite emergency kits
One network, several paths
No single satellite network is right for every site, and no single link should carry a critical operation on its own. We combine LEO, GEO and L-band services from different operators, so if one path drops, traffic moves to the next one automatically.
Because we aren't tied to one network, the design is driven by your site's needs rather than by a single product we have to sell.
Get a site designHigh-throughput LEO
Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb for video, cloud applications and crew Wi-Fi.
L-band backup
Iridium Certus and Thuraya: weather-resilient links for voice, email and critical data.
IoT & SCADA
Low-data satellite links for sensors, tracking and remote assets via Iridium SBD.
Which satellite service fits which job
A quick guide to how each service is typically used in oil & gas. We'll confirm the right mix for your coverage area and data needs.
| Service | Orbit / band | Best for | Typical role on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink | LEO | High-speed, low-latency broadband; video, cloud apps, crew Wi-Fi | Primary link, offshore and onshore |
| Eutelsat OneWeb | LEO, Ku-band | Enterprise-grade LEO broadband from a second LEO operator | Primary or diverse second LEO path |
| KVH VSAT | GEO, Ku-band | Established maritime broadband with stabilized antennas | Secondary broadband path |
| Iridium Certus | LEO, L-band | Pole-to-pole voice and data that stays up in heavy rain | Always-on backup, voice lines, safety |
| Inmarsat | GEO, L-band | FleetBroadband, FleetOne, BGAN and Inmarsat C services | Backup data, voice and maritime safety |
| Thuraya | GEO, L-band | Voice and portable broadband across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia | Regional voice and backup data |
| Iridium SBD | LEO, L-band | Small, frequent data messages from low-power devices | SCADA, telemetry and asset tracking |
Coverage, speeds and plan availability depend on location, terminal and regulatory approval. Starlink use in international waters requires a Global Priority or Maritime plan. See Starlink Maritime plans.
Equipment oil & gas teams rely on
Rugged terminals and devices we supply, configure and support. Ask us for complete site kits, spares and mounting hardware.
Starlink Performance Gen 3
Rugged enterprise terminal rated IP69K/IP68 for extreme temperatures and high winds.
View details →
Iridium Certus 700
Pole-to-pole voice and data with three HD voice lines, for always-on backup.
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KVH CommBox Edge 6
Manages up to 12 WAN sources, including Starlink, VSAT, LTE and Wi-Fi, with traffic rules and failover.
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Iridium Extreme PTT
Rugged dual-mode handset for instant group calls and SOS across the whole operation.
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Starlink Flat High Performance
Fixed-mount maritime terminal for platforms, rigs and support vessels.
View details →
KVH TracPhone V11-HTS
1-meter Ku/C-band VSAT system built for harsh marine environments.
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Global Satellite SCADA Tracker
Rugged tracking and two-way satellite communication for remote assets, vehicles and vessels.
View details →
Thuraya IP NEO
Lightweight terminal for exploration teams, with up to 444 kbps standard data.
View details →From site survey to 24/7 support
One accountable partner for equipment, airtime, installation and support, instead of separate contracts with each provider.
Requirements & survey
Location, users, applications, power and safety needs.
Network design
Primary, backup and voice layers matched to your coverage area.
Quote & supply
Hardware, mounts, spares and airtime in one proposal, shipped worldwide.
Install & commission
On-site or remotely guided installation, testing and handover.
Activate airtime
Monthly, prepaid or project-based plans across multiple networks.
Support & scale
24/7 technical support, plan changes and new sites as you grow.
A communications partner, not just a reseller
- Experience since 1974. Five decades of satellite communications for industry, government and maritime customers.
- Network-independent advice. Starlink, OneWeb, KVH, Iridium, Inmarsat and Thuraya under one roof, so we recommend what fits the site.
- International presence. Offices in the United States, France, Morocco, Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands, plus our KVH partnership in the USA.
- Buy, rent or both. Permanent installations for producing assets and rentals for drilling campaigns, turnarounds and surveys.
- Support that stays. 24/7 technical support, airtime management and spares long after installation.
Short campaign? Rent instead of buying.
Starlink kits, satellite phones and PTT handsets for drilling campaigns, seismic surveys, shutdowns and emergency response, available for days, weeks or months.
Oil & gas satellite communications: common questions
What is the best satellite internet for an offshore oil rig?
For most rigs and platforms the best setup is hybrid. A high-throughput LEO service such as Starlink or Eutelsat OneWeb carries everyday traffic, and an independent backup such as KVH VSAT or Iridium Certus takes over automatically if the primary link fails. A gateway like KVH CommBox Edge manages both and prioritizes operational traffic. The right mix depends on location, bandwidth and how critical the applications are.
Can Starlink be used on offshore oil and gas platforms?
Yes. Offshore installations use Starlink with ruggedized terminals such as the Flat High Performance or Performance Gen 3. Sites inside a country's territorial waters can use plans for that country, while installations or vessels in international waters need a Global Priority or Maritime plan. We supply the hardware, activate the right plan and add a backup link for critical operations. See our Starlink Maritime plans.
How do you keep a remote site connected if the main satellite link goes down?
We design every critical site with at least two independent paths, for example Starlink plus Iridium Certus, or Starlink plus KVH VSAT. A network gateway monitors each link and switches traffic automatically, so voice, email and control data keep flowing during an outage, heavy rain or obstruction.
Which satellite phone is best for oil and gas field crews?
Iridium is the usual choice because it covers the entire planet, including offshore and polar regions. The Iridium Extreme 9575 adds an SOS button and GPS tracking, and the Iridium Extreme PTT adds push-to-talk group calling. In Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Thuraya handsets are a cost-effective alternative. Compare options on our satellite phone plans page.
Can SCADA and pipeline sensors communicate by satellite?
Yes. Low-data satellite IoT services such as Iridium SBD send small, frequent messages from wellheads, tanks, valves and pipeline sensors where there is no cellular coverage. Devices like the Global Satellite SCADA Tracker and solar-powered GSatSolar are built for long, low-maintenance deployments. Learn more about Iridium SBD solutions.
Do you offer short-term rentals for drilling campaigns or surveys?
Yes. We rent Starlink kits, satellite phones and push-to-talk handsets for days, weeks or months, which suits drilling campaigns, seismic surveys, turnarounds and emergency response. See Starlink rentals and satellite phone rentals.
Do you provide installation and ongoing support?
Yes. We handle site requirements, network design, supply, installation and commissioning, either on site or remotely guided depending on location, followed by airtime management and 24/7 technical support.
Get a connectivity design for your site
Tell us about your platform, rig or remote site and we'll propose the right mix of equipment, airtime and backup, with clear pricing.
- Site type and location (offshore block, basin or coordinates)
- Number of users and the main applications
- Primary, backup or voice-only requirement
- Purchase, rental or project duration
