Harris CapRock Communications said May 2 that it has signed a five-year agreement with cruise operator Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to provide hybrid satellite and terrestrial communications services onboard its fleet of 34 ships in the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises brands.

Harris CapRock will deploy a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) network that combines Ku-, C-band and shore wireless connectivity so ships can switch seamlessly from one platform to another to maximize service availability and avoid downtime. Each ship will be equipped with two or three of Harris CapRock’s stabilized VSAT antenna systems. The agreement calls for Harris CapRock to provide Royal Caribbean with equipment, installation, maintenance, service and around-the-clock monitoring.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.