The maritime industry has always been an essential part of global trade and commerce. However, the industry has been slow to adopt new technologies, and the internet was no exception. The inception of maritime internet dates back to the early 1990s when the first satellite-based communication systems were introduced.
The first satellite-based communication system was Inmarsat, which was primarily used for voice communication. Inmarsat allowed ships to communicate with the shore and other vessels, but it was not designed for data transfer. As the demand for data transfer increased, the need for a dedicated maritime internet system became apparent.