CMA CGM bets on OneWeb satellites to bring fast, low-latency internet to 300 cargo ships worldwide

CMA CGM, one of the world’s biggest container shipping companies, is wiring up more than 300 ships with OneWeb’s low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite internet—an aggressive push to make life at sea run more like a modern, always-connected business.

The French shipping giant says the fleetwide upgrade, being rolled out with maritime communications provider Marlink and satellite operator Eutelsat, should be largely completed within the next nine months. The goal: faster, more reliable connectivity for everything from route planning and engine monitoring to crew communications—while also supporting the company’s emissions-cutting strategy.

A major shipping player goes all-in on LEO connectivity

If you don’t follow global shipping, here’s the quick context: CMA CGM is a top-tier rival to Denmark’s Maersk, moving huge volumes of goods through hundreds of ports across nearly every major trade lane. The company says it operates more than 650 vessels calling at about 420 ports in 177 countries—an operation that increasingly depends on constant data flow.

That’s where OneWeb comes in. Unlike traditional geostationary (GEO) satellites parked far above Earth, LEO satellites orbit much closer, which typically means lower latency and better responsiveness—key for real-time operational tools. CMA CGM and its partners are pitching this as a step-change, not a minor upgrade.

How the “hybrid” network is supposed to work

Marlink and Eutelsat say they’re blending OneWeb’s LEO service with existing LEO and GEO links to create a hybrid network designed to keep ships online even when coverage, weather, or congestion would otherwise cause dropouts.

The system is managed through Marlink’s XChange NextGen platform, which is built to juggle multiple satellite networks and prioritize traffic—so critical operational data doesn’t get stuck behind less urgent internet use.

Marlink CEO Erik Ceuppens framed the project as a blueprint for how shipping companies will deploy “advanced digital solutions” at global scale as the industry modernizes.

Why connectivity is now tied to fuel use and emissions

CMA CGM is also selling the upgrade as a decarbonization tool. With better real-time data, ships can fine-tune routes, adjust speed, and monitor engine performance more continuously—changes that can reduce fuel burn and emissions across long voyages.

The company and its partners also point to predictive maintenance: streaming performance and environmental data back to shore can help spot mechanical issues earlier, potentially preventing breakdowns and keeping vessels operating more efficiently.

Eutelsat CEO Jean-François Fallacher called the partnership a significant step for expanding OneWeb’s maritime footprint, arguing that better connectivity directly supports CMA CGM’s environmental targets.

For crews, it’s not just about business—it’s about life at sea

Shipping companies have struggled for years with retention and morale, and onboard internet has become a quality-of-life issue. CMA CGM’s pitch is that more consistent, higher-performance connectivity can help crews stay in touch with family, access entertainment, and use online training and education resources while at sea.

Marlink’s platform is also positioned as a way to keep that experience secure and manageable—important as ships become more connected and, by extension, more exposed to cyber risks.

How CMA CGM’s move stacks up against rivals

CMA CGM isn’t alone in chasing better satellite broadband. Other major carriers—including Maersk—have announced partnerships aimed at bringing high-bandwidth connectivity to ships as the industry leans harder into digitization.

What stands out here is scale. Outfitting more than 300 vessels with LEO connectivity ranks as one of the larger deployments in commercial shipping so far, and it signals how quickly satellite internet is becoming core infrastructure for global logistics.

The big risks: cybersecurity and seamless switching

More connectivity also means more attack surface. Cybersecurity is a growing concern in maritime shipping, where disruptions can ripple through supply chains. CMA CGM and Marlink say they’ve built in advanced security measures, but the underlying risk doesn’t disappear—especially as ships rely more heavily on connected systems.

There’s also the technical challenge of making multiple networks behave like one. The promise of a hybrid LEO/GEO setup depends on smooth handoffs and consistent uptime—because in the middle of the ocean, “spotty” isn’t good enough.

If the rollout works as advertised, it could accelerate a broader shift: ships operating with the kind of real-time digital performance that businesses on land take for granted—changing how fleets are managed, how fuel is used, and how crews experience months away from home.