By
Rebecca Gibson |
MTN Communications (MTN) has doubled the number of cruise ships and tripled the number of regions connected to its Terrestrial Broadband Network (TBN) since launching the platform last summer.
First introduced in Alaska in the summer 2013 cruise season, several MTN partners – such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises – have leveraged the technology to improve communications services for both passengers and crew. Today, MTN TBN access points now cover the east and west Coasts of the US, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the UK, which handle the highest volume of cruise traffic.
Designed to increase bandwidth speed and performance, TBN enables ships to seamlessly switch between satellite and TBN connections via the first-ever hybrid network. This enables the vessels to use the fastest data path available, such as accessing the TBN when near to or berthed in ports. Broadband antenna tracking and stabilisation systems help the ships ‘lock’ onto MTN TBN access points in-port without impacting on the end-user experience.
Meanwhile, shipboard data centres are equipped with advanced processing technologies and MTN TBN optimises corporate IT data so it flows through vessel networks more efficiently, freeing up space for additional applications.
“The reason behind launching the MTN TBN was to allow our customers to leverage a more practical communications ‘pipe’ while in port, versus costly satellite bandwidth,” said Brent Horwitz, senior vice president and general manager of cruise and ferry services at MTN. “In addition, the TBN enables greater throughput on the vessel for increasing IT and corporate communications demands.
TBN connectivity enables up to six times more bandwidth for communications and content sharing on the ship, enabling passengers and crew to access social media, infotainment, content and more.
“This differentiator delivers higher internet speeds, a perk for crew retention and satisfaction,” said Howitz. “Crew no longer have to get off their ship and spend port days online catching up with family and personal business. Now they can quickly connect right from their ship, freeing up time for them to better enjoy being in-port. This also creates an improved passenger experience and generates further revenue for the operator.”