Speedcast Unveils Next-Generation SIGMA Solution

Speedcast has introduced the latest iteration of its SIGMA intelligent edge network management solution. This upgrade features a revamped architecture designed to tackle contemporary challenges in visibility, control, compliance, and security essential for managing distributed edge environments. The new base operating system and cloud-native orchestration platform are optimized for virtualized deployments, enabling policy-driven configurations and updates throughout the entire lifecycle. This addresses the pressing need for large-scale automation and facilitates seamless rollouts to thousands of edge devices.

Meeting Growing Demand for LEO Integration

As a leading global tier-one reseller of Starlink and a distribution partner for Eutelsat OneWeb, Speedcast recognizes the increasing demand for integrating LEO service offerings with its SIGMA platform. This integration provides a fully managed, future-proof solution for remote connectivity. SIGMA accommodates a diverse range of services, including Starlink, OneWeb, and other emerging constellations, alongside traditional connectivity options. It operationalizes multi-vendor enterprise SD-WAN and various industry applications through highly flexible and automated edge deployment and marketplace solutions.

Insights from Customer Needs

Dee Schwalb, Chief Product Officer at Speedcast, remarked: “SIGMA has consistently been a favorite among our customers and a flagship product for Speedcast. Our unique position in supporting remote operations has provided us with invaluable insights into the diverse needs and challenges faced by our clients, which we have directly translated into these latest platform enhancements. This release fully modernizes and evolves SIGMA’s architecture, extending our customers’ cloud experience to the edge while enabling centralized management and orchestration of distributed edge infrastructure and applications.”

Enhanced Visibility and Security

The latest SIGMA release boosts remote site visibility and control with compact routing functions, broadens hardware diversity while cutting costs, and enhances automation for deployment and updates—crucial for managing the proliferation of edge devices. SIGMA integrates secure network connectivity, advanced firewall protection, and robust hardware-based security measures, such as measured boot to ensure safe system startups, Zero Trust role-based access controls to restrict changes to authorized users, data encryption, and the ability to disable unused physical ports on devices, thus preventing tampering or unauthorized access.

Compliance with Cybersecurity Standards

The enhanced SIGMA platform also serves as a critical component in meeting the International Association of Classification Societies’ (IACS) latest Unified Requirements, which mandate that new ships incorporate cybersecurity considerations from the outset. The new IACS E26 and E27 requirements focus on the entire vessel and the onboard Computer Based Systems, emphasizing the need for robust protection. SIGMA’s SASE cloud-native technology enhances network security and ensures that the design, configuration, deployment, and lifecycle of applications comply with these stringent new standards for fleet owners and operators.

Expanding the SIGMA Marketplace

Schwalb added: “The new architecture provides the backbone for our SIGMA marketplace, offering managed containerized or virtual machine deployments of applications that customers can leverage for their digital operations. Starting with our crew experience and internet café applications, we will expand marketplace offerings in areas such as computer vision, video streaming, enhanced cybersecurity capabilities, and customer-selected VMs. This marks the beginning of an era where customers can effortlessly add, manage, and deploy complex solution sets securely throughout application lifecycles.”

Innovative Technologies and Upcoming Events

Earlier this year, Speedcast announced a patent grant from the US Patent and Trademark Office for technologies developed to enhance the SIGMA platform. This intellectual property will enable Speedcast to deliver an intelligent network solution through a combination of proprietary algorithms, machine learning, and automated analysis, significantly improving the connectivity experience for customers.

Speedcast will showcase the enhanced, next-generation SIGMA platform at upcoming industry trade shows. At Nor-Shipping 2025, taking place from June 2-6 in Oslo, Norway, the team will host a celebration event at the Speedcast stand B05-33 on Tuesday, June 3 at 3:00 p.m. Speedcast’s technical and commercial experts will be on-site to demonstrate the platform. Additionally, in partnership with leading software company ZEDEDA, Speedcast will discuss how the upgraded architecture brings the power of edge intelligence to maritime operations during a session on Future-Proofing Your Fleet at the Digital Ship Forum on Wednesday, June 4 at 12:15 p.m. in the Thon Hotel Arena.