CMA CGM Group, Marlink, and Eutelsat Partnership
•February 9, 2026
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Companies Mentioned
Why It Matters
The deployment gives shipping operators near‑shore broadband at sea, unlocking operational efficiencies and emissions reductions while strengthening Europe’s independent satellite ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
- •300+ vessels receive OneWeb LEO connectivity.
- •Hybrid LEO/GEO architecture ensures global coverage.
- •Real‑time data cuts fuel use, supports decarbonisation.
- •Crew gains terrestrial‑grade broadband, improving welfare.
- •Partnership bolsters European satellite sovereignty.
Pulse Analysis
The shipping sector has long struggled with reliable, high‑bandwidth communications beyond coastal waters. Low Earth Orbit constellations such as OneWeb are reshaping that landscape by delivering latency‑critical broadband from orbit, a capability previously limited to geostationary satellites. As global trade volumes rebound, carriers are investing in digital infrastructure to support autonomous navigation, predictive maintenance, and real‑time logistics visibility. The shift toward multi‑orbit solutions reflects a broader industry consensus that a single satellite layer cannot guarantee uninterrupted coverage across diverse maritime routes.
CMA CGM’s agreement with Marlink and Eutelsat operationalises this trend on a massive scale. Over 300 vessels will be equipped with OneWeb’s LEO service, integrated through Marlink’s XChange NextGen edge platform, creating a hybrid LEO/GEO network that adapts to route‑specific signal conditions. The upgrade promises terrestrial‑grade speeds, enabling crew video‑conferencing, cloud‑based applications, and high‑throughput data streams for route optimisation. Continuous telemetry also feeds advanced analytics that trim fuel consumption and support the group’s 2030 decarbonisation roadmap, turning connectivity into a measurable emissions lever.
Beyond immediate performance gains, the partnership reinforces Europe’s digital sovereignty. As an anchor shareholder of Eutelsat, CMA CGM helps anchor a home‑grown satellite ecosystem that reduces reliance on non‑European providers. The collaboration showcases how logistics operators can become strategic partners in the satellite value chain, fostering a resilient communications backbone for critical maritime trade. Competitors are likely to follow suit, accelerating the rollout of LEO‑enabled services across the global fleet and driving a new era of data‑driven, sustainable shipping.
CMA CGM Group, Marlink, and Eutelsat Partnership
On February 9, 2026, a landmark industrial partnership was solidified between the CMA CGM Group, Marlink, and Eutelsat to revolutionize maritime connectivity.
This multi-year agreement centers on the deployment of OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) services across more than 300 CMA CGM vessels over the next nine months. By integrating high-speed, low-latency satellite technology into its global fleet, CMA CGM is setting a new benchmark for digital performance in the shipping industry, effectively bridging the gap between shore-based office environments and deep-sea operations.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading Blue subheads has-hp-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color" id="On-February-9,-2026,-a-landmark-industrial-partnership-was-solidified-between-the-CMA-CGM-Group,-Marlink,-and-Eutelsat-to-revolutionize-maritime-connectivity.-This-multi-year-agreement-centers-on-the-deployment-of-OneWeb-Low-Earth-Orbit-(LEO)-services-across-more-than-300-CMA-CGM-vessels-over-the-next-nine-months.-By-integrating-high-speed,-low-latency-satellite-technology-into-its-global-fleet,-CMA-CGM-is-setting-a-new-benchmark-for-digital-performance-in-the-shipping-industry,-effectively-bridging-the-gap-between-shore-based-office-environments-and-deep-sea-operations.<span-style="color:blue">Accelerating-Digital-Transformation-at-Sea</span>The-core-of-this-deployment-is-a-high-availability,-multi-orbit-architecture-that-combines-Eutelsat-OneWeb’s-LEO-constellation-with-existing-Geostationary-(GEO)-and-LEO-networks.-This-hybrid-approach,-enabled-by-Marlink's-XChange-NextGen-edge-platform,-ensures-that-vessels-maintain-robust-and-secure-connectivity-regardless-of-their-sailing-route.-The-upgrade-allows-for-high-throughput-data-exchange,-which-is-critical-for-real-time-operational-efficiency-and-the-support-of-future-digital-use-cases.-By-providing-seafarers-with-terrestrial-grade-broadband-speeds,-CMA-CGM-is-also-significantly-enhancing-crew-welfare,-allowing-for-seamless-video-conferencing-and-access-to-cloud-based-applications.<span-style="color:blue">Supporting-Decarbonization-and-Sustainable-Operations</span>Beyond-operational-speed,-the-integration-of-LEO-connectivity-is-a-strategic-move-toward-CMA-CGM’s-environmental-objectives.-Continuous-real-time-data-flow-enables-the-precise-optimization-of-routes,-vessel-speeds,-and-fuel-consumption,-which-are-essential-factors-in-reducing-the-fleet's-overall-carbon-footprint.-The-ability-to-monitor-engine-performance-and-environmental-data-in-real-time-allows-for-predictive-maintenance-and-proactive-adjustments,-ensuring-that-vessels-operate-at-peak-efficiency.-This-technological-leap-supports-the-Group’s-long-term-commitment-to-decarbonization-and-reinforces-its-role-as-a-leader-in-sustainable-logistics.<span-style="color:blue">Strengthening-European-Digital-SovereigntyAccelerating Digital Transformation at SeaThe core of this deployment is a high-availability, multi-orbit architecture that combines Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO constellation with existing Geostationary (GEO) and LEO networks. This hybrid approach, enabled by Marlink’s XChange NextGen edge platform, ensures that vessels maintain robust and secure connectivity regardless of their sailing route. The upgrade allows for high-throughput data exchange, which is critical for real-time operational efficiency and the support of future digital use cases. By providing seafarers with terrestrial-grade broadband speeds, CMA CGM is also significantly enhancing crew welfare, allowing for seamless video conferencing and access to cloud-based applications.
Supporting Decarbonization and Sustainable Operations
Beyond operational speed, the integration of LEO connectivity is a strategic move toward CMA CGM’s environmental objectives. Continuous real-time data flow enables the precise optimization of routes, vessel speeds, and fuel consumption, which are essential factors in reducing the fleet’s overall carbon footprint. The ability to monitor engine performance and environmental data in real-time allows for predictive maintenance and proactive adjustments, ensuring that vessels operate at peak efficiency. This technological leap supports the Group’s long-term commitment to decarbonization and reinforces its role as a leader in sustainable logistics.
Strengthening European Digital Sovereignty
As an anchor shareholder of Eutelsat since 2022, CMA CGM’s investment in this partnership reflects a broader commitment to building a resilient and sovereign European digital infrastructure. The collaboration between these three French and European industry giants—CMA CGM (Logistics), Eutelsat (Satellite), and Marlink (Managed Services)—creates a powerful ecosystem that prioritizes secure and reliable maritime communications. This alliance not only enhances the group’s internal industrial performance but also contributes to the robustness of the global maritime connectivity framework, ensuring that critical data remains secure in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
Project Component
Details of the CMA CGM / Marlink / Eutelsat Partnership
Connectivity Provider
Eutelsat OneWeb (LEO Constellation)
Integration Partner
Marlink (XChange NextGen edge platform)
Fleet Scale
300+ global maritime vessels
Deployment Timeline
Rollout to be completed within 9 months (Nov 2026)
Primary Orbit Type
Hybrid Multi-Orbit (LEO / GEO)
Key Benefits
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