Page 40: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2015)

MARITIME COMMUNICATION

Answering the Call

By Alan Johnstone “We think it’s time for a new mobile Faster, further, ? rst (NCS) – the ? rst offshore network of this

There’s a digital discon- communications reality,” says a steely Maritime Communication Partner kind, on this scale, anywhere. nect offshore. The com- eyed Frode Støldal from his seat at the (MCP) is currently known for its mo- In theory this will connect all operating

Offshore Technology Days conference bile services and solutions in the cruise vessels, platforms and rigs on the NCS to munication standards we in Bergen, Norway. “The offshore com- and ferry segments, where the business, high-speed, reliable 4G mobile services. munity suffers, on both an industry-wide headquartered in Norway with an addi- Offshore crews, workers and businesses take for granted on land and personal level, by having limited tional of? ce in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has will, for the ? rst time, be able to enjoy are cut adrift at sea; access to the modern standards of con- a 12-year track record of ‘at sea’ exper- levels of connectivity directly compa- nectivity that we all take for granted on tise under its belt. Owned by Norwegian rable to those on land.

hampering data trans- land. The result is business processes telecoms giant Telenor, MCP operates “MCP and Telenor see offshore as a fer for businesses, while that don’t enjoy the levels of ef? cien- a proprietary mobile network – CellAt- real ‘green? eld’ opportunity,” Støldal cy, speed and accuracy they could with Sea – that last year connected some 16 explains, using telecoms terminology severing individuals’ higher performance data connections, million users, enabled by a collection of for a completely new development mar- and crews that don’t ‘feel at home’ when over 330 international roaming agree- ket – something that, in an increasingly lifelines to social media they’re at sea. This impacts upon satis- ments. It’s established, ? nancially strong connected world, is a rarity. “I’ve been networks. What’s to ‘like’ faction and retention levels. and hungry for fresh opportunities. Off- involved in the roll out of 4G on land “We can change that,” he argues, slow- shore, it appears, is now the main item in Norway (he was formerly Telenor about that? Frode Støl- ing his pace to emphasize every word as on the menu. MCP’s plan is simple, yet Norway CTO) and the speed and capac- dal, CEO of MCP, has he adds: “good communication unlocks technologically challenging. It aims to ity of the networks is revolutionary. 4G potential.” …And Støldal, it seems from roll out LTE base stations in the North enables and enhances innovation, and had enough.

his meeting with Maritime Reporter, be- Sea, creating a 4G network across the the offshore community, the eco-system lieves his ? rm has the key. entire Norwegian Continental Shelf that serves it, and all additional maritime

Talking MCP

Frode Støldal • Established in 2002 • Owned by Telenor, a major global mobile operator (with 176 million subscriptions) • Building offshore proposition but al- ready well-established in cruise and ferry segments, providing services to over 170 vessels and maritime as- sets across the world • Currently has 16 GSM (2G) installa- tions in the North Sea • MCP’s CellAtSea network recorded 16 million users in 2013 • In the same year data traf? c over the network grew by 105%, while the business grew 39% • Headquarters in Arendal, Norway, additional of? ce in Fort Lauderdale,

Florida 40 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • FEBRUARY 2015

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