Communications with shore have always been a challenge for seafarers, but improvements in 4G technology in recent years are opening up opportunities to address this
Singapore-based Blue Wireless specialises in 4G/LTE, providing routers to ensure sustained connectivity. Chief executive Ivan Landen spoke with Singapore Solutions about the increasing availability of 4G/LTE in maritime and how it can benefit vessel owners and operators.
The rise of 4G/LTE is being boosted by technologies such as internet of things (IoT) and cloud-based applications, which need a sustained level of connectivity. Due to the much higher speeds and much lower costs 4G/LTE offers over satellite communications, new uses for this connectivity can be found such as crew wifi and corporate wide-area network access, Mr Landen said. “Companies are getting used to this now as a new alternative,” he added.
“This is something a lot of people need to have a look at – it’ll save a lot of money compared to satellite.”
Mr Landen noted that while digitalisation technologies such as IoT, condition monitoring and autonomous technology are very attractive to shipowners, none of these can be implemented without having the backbone of connectivity in place.
While satellite connectivity is still important when operating on the open-sea, for near-shore operations 4G/LTE is increasingly the go-to solution. Reliable connectivity is attainable as far out as 25 nautical miles from shore, or even further in countries such as Australia using LTE bands in the 600-800 Mhz range, Mr Landen said.
This is reflected in the vessel types on Blue Wireless’s orderbooks, which comprise of craft such as pilot craft, tugboats and ferries, including Sydney’s harbour ferries and transnational ferries on routes such as Indonesia-Singapore. Offshore rigs and platforms are also good candidates for such connectivity.
But even vessels that operate further out could see benefits from having 4G/LTE connectivity on board alongside a satellite connection. As a lot of heavy data communication occurs when vessels are near-shore, such as transferring loading bills, clearance and shipping instructions, the ability to switch to 4G/LTE in these solutions could be a real boon and produce significant cost savings.
A key element of Blue Wireless’ offering in this arena is that it can offer turnkey solutions, Mr Landen said.
Based around rugged Cradlepoint 4G/LTE routers, which are designed to handle heat, vibration and humidity, Blue Wireless provides customers with multi-provider SIMs loaded with high usage plans and pricing tailored to particular locations, uses and applications. Cradlepoint equipment uses software-defined cloud technology that means it can be deployed rapidly and controlled via a cloud portal that works via any network access. This removes dependency on public or fixed IP addressing, and the need for configuring VPNs. It also removes the need for onboard IT managers and staff, meaning owners can control all vessel connectivity including usage, profiles and filtering from shore.
While adoption of 4G is growing worldwide, Asia is leading the way in this respect, said Mr Landen, adding that the next step, 5G, is currently undergoing trials in Japan, South Korea and Australia. The only limitation is infrastructure, he said, adding “We’re all relying on mobile operators to continuously improve their network.”
“As networks get better, faster and cheaper, adoption of 4G in maritime will grow,” he said.
Source: https://www.amemaritime.com/news/view,nearshore-shipping-benefits-from-4g-connectivity_57028.htm