By
Rebecca Gibson |
European ferry operator Stena Line will provide free internet connectivity to passengers on its seven Scandinavian ferries which travel on Danish, Norwegian and Swedish routes.
Marlink, a leading provider of satellite services, has developed the CoastalRoam connection for Stena, in order to enhance the customised Sealink VSAT services already available onboard the ferries. CoastalRoam was successfully trialled onboard the Stena Danica ferry and integrates satellite, 3G and 4G connections from Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Poland.
“Our goal is to make any voyage as comfortable and convenient for passengers as we can,” said Calle Sedelius, IT support specialist, Stena IT. “Internet connectivity is vital in this day and age but provision of free wifi onboard for hundreds of users is very hard to achieve cost-effectively. With CoastalRoam, we are able to confidently offer the service and balance the cost versus the high levels of customer satisfaction we get from it.”
Free internet will be available whenever a vessel is within range of a 3G or 4G connection and the public internet connection will automatically switch to the fastest available internet service using a lower cost carrier.
“The combination of 3G antennas and Marlink Sealink customised VSAT services onboard these seven ferries ensures seamless free connectivity for passengers,” saidTom Erling Hansen, head of sales North Europe, Marlink. “CoastalRoam enables automatic switching between VSAT and 3G, so the system is able to find the fastest and least costly connectivity available at any time.”
CoastalRoam will be installed on all of Stena Line’s vessels as soon as connectivity points can be established and the system is also being prepared for other carrier technologies such as wifi and wimax.