Inmarsat Maritime’s Partner Director for Europe and the Americas, Kalliope “Popi” Economou, outlines how a combination of advanced multi-network connectivity and regional partnerships is supporting Greek shipping’s digital and human-centred transformation.
Explain your role and areas of responsibility in a couple of sentences
As Partner Director at Inmarsat Maritime, I work closely with our partners and customers across Greece and the wider European market to support their digital transformation strategies and connectivity requirements. My role entails strengthening strategic relationships, driving growth, and ensuring shipowners can fully benefit from the latest advances in maritime communications and digital services.
You’ve spent many years in the satcoms sector, including the last five at Inmarsat. What are the most significant shifts you’ve seen in maritime connectivity during that time?
The pace of change has accelerated dramatically. What was once viewed mainly as an operational utility is now widely considered a strategic business enabler. Today, vessels rely on always-on, high-performance connectivity to support everything from operational efficiency, safety, and cybersecurity to regulatory compliance, crew welfare, and data-driven decision making.
There has also been a major shift in the industry’s expectations around user experience. Shipowners and crews increasingly compare onboard connectivity with the internet they have at home or in the office – and this is fundamentally reshaping the market, driving demand for more resilient, integrated, and intelligent connectivity solutions at sea.
How have shipowners’ expectations changed when it comes to connectivity, reliability, and digital services?
Shipowners today expect connectivity to be seamless, reliable, and fully integrated into their operations. Five years ago, discussions were often centred around bandwidth and coverage. Now, the conversation is much broader and more strategic.
Customers are looking for solutions that can support business-critical applications, remote vessel management, cybersecurity, crew wellbeing, and digitalisation initiatives without interruption. Reliability and consistency have become just as important as speed. There is also growing recognition that connectivity is no longer a standalone service – but the digital foundation for modern shipping operations.
Inmarsat has been driving innovation in maritime connectivity through solutions like NexusWave. What gap in the market does NexusWave address, and why is it particularly relevant for the Greek shipping sector?
NexusWave addresses a long-standing challenge in maritime connectivity: delivering a consistently high-quality internet experience at sea rather than simply providing access to bandwidth.
While traditional maritime connectivity solutions often rely on network switching, which can cause interruptions and inconsistent performance, NexusWave intelligently bonds GEO, LEO, LTE, and L-band services in real time to deliver a more resilient and seamless experience.
This is especially relevant for the Greek shipping community, which operates one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated fleets. Greek shipowners place great importance on operational efficiency, crew welfare, business continuity, and long-term asset value. As vessels become increasingly digitalised and reliant on continuous data exchange, the need for secure, high-performance, and globally resilient connectivity becomes more and more critical.
How do you see demand evolving in Greece for next-generation connectivity solutions over the next few years?
I believe demand will continue to grow strongly as digitalisation strategies mature across the industry. Greek shipowners have traditionally been early adopters of technologies that deliver measurable operational and commercial value, and we are seeing increasing investment in solutions that support performance optimisation, cybersecurity, remote operations, emissions reporting, and crew retention.
At the same time, crew expectations continue to rise. Reliable vessel connectivity is now considered a key factor in onboard wellbeing and job satisfaction – particularly among younger generations of seafarers.
We also expect growing interest in fully managed connectivity services that simplify operations for shipowners while providing greater resilience and security by design.
Inmarsat’s partnership with Pulsar has been highlighted as a key collaboration. What makes this relationship effective, and how does it translate into greater support for shipowners?
Pulsar has a deep understanding of the Greek maritime market and has established strong relationships with local shipowners. Inmarsat Maritime, for its part, brings decades of experience in global maritime connectivity alongside a consistent track record of innovation. The strength of the relationship lies in the two parties’ shared focus on long-term customer value and service quality.
Together, we provide shipowners not only with advanced technology but also with local support, trusted advisory capabilities, and a profound knowledge of operational realities. In a market as relationship-driven and technically demanding as Greece, this combination is extremely valuable.
What factors do you think are primarily responsible for driving adoption of Inmarsat’s technologies in Greece (for example, reliability, crew welfare, digital transformation strategies?)
Reliability and trust remain fundamental. Greek shipowners operate globally and require solutions that consistently support mission-critical operations wherever their vessels are trading.
At the same time, crew welfare has become a top priority, with shipowners increasingly recognising the direct link between high-quality connectivity, onboard wellbeing, and crew retention.
Digital transformation is another important driver. Connectivity is now central to smarter vessel operations, data-driven decision making, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and continuous innovation. Shipowners are looking for partners who can support them strategically over the long term – not simply provide bandwidth.
The Maritime IT/Satcom sector has, as more widely throughout maritime, traditionally been a male-dominated industry. How have you seen opportunities for women evolve over your career?
The maritime IT/satcom sector, like the wider maritime industry, was very male-dominated when I started my career, meaning I was one of very few women involved. However, throughout my journey within the Greek maritime community, I have always been treated with respect and professionalism, and have never felt that I have been denied equal opportunities because of my gender.
Over the years, I have seen the industry become more international, technology-driven, and inclusive, with more women taking leadership roles across the sector. It is a pleasure for me to encourage young people, including women, to enter the maritime world. Greece, in particular – as the largest shipping market globally – offers exciting international opportunities, innovation, and long-term career growth for the next generation.
What is the role/ importance of the satellite access station in Thermopylae in strengthening regional maritime connectivity?
Thermopylae Satellite Access Station represents far more than a critical element of Inmarsat’s global infrastructure; it reflects the company’s deep and longstanding relationship with the largest and most influential shipping community in the world.
Greece has played a defining role in global maritime trade for generations, and Inmarsat has always recognised the strategic importance, expertise, and global leadership of Greek shipping. Thermopylae station underlines Inmarsat’s enduring commitment to supporting Greek shipowners and the wider maritime ecosystem with resilient, reliable, and world-class connectivity services.
From a technical perspective, the station strengthens the resilience and global reach of maritime satellite communications across key shipping routes. Equally, it symbolises the trust and partnerships that Inmarsat has nurtured over decades within the Greek maritime community. As the industry continues to digitalise and place ever-greater emphasis on operational efficiency and crew welfare, trust-based relationships will have a significant part to play.
