Clarus Networks group opening new office in Norwich

Clarus Networks group, which uses low earth orbit satellites to increase ocean internet speeds by around 300pc, has chosen St Vedast House, on St Vedast Street, as its first English base.

It said the city was the perfect choice for the new office because of its “long history in excellence in maritime and energy sectors, with access to skilled staff”.

The company, which is headquartered in Scotland, said it had seen an increase in revenue of 328pc on last year, and that it would be taking on 13 new staff members to run the new office, with around half of those local hires.

Norwich local Chris Schonhut was announced as the new director of maritime and energy last month, and said: “Joining the Clarus team means working with the most powerful connectivity technology available, and I’m proud to head up the new office located in Norwich.

Norwich local Chris Schonhut was announced as the new director of maritime and energy (Image: Submitted)

“The east coast of England is a hub for both maritime and energy, making Norwich the perfect location for Clarus’ new, specialist team.

“In my new role, I’m excited to be providing support for maritime and energy businesses, unifying connectivity systems to support efficient operations and promoting further growth of important sectors for the region.” 

One of the company’s key offerings is high-performance antennas, which can withstand extreme weather, and allow ships to connect to Elon Musk’s Starlink technology.

The service will be used by merchant vessels, cruise ships, yachts, ferries and offshore energy plants, with clients including Valaris, P&O Ferries, and Stödig Ship Management.

Derek Phillips, group managing director, said: “With 70% of the world covered in water, we believe that fast, reliable connectivity should be just as accessible in the ocean as in the office.”