Page 41: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2015)

MCP aims to revolutionize communications in the offshore sector.

traf? c will bene? t hugely from that. modern business processes and technol- “Of course it’s ambitious, and a sub- ogy will perform better with better chan- stantial investment in spectrums and in- nels of data exchange – working togeth- frastructure,” he concedes, “but the mar- er across secure, reliable networks for ket demand is de? nitely there.” improved ef? ciencies and understand- ing. Similarly, everyone can relate to en-

Platforms for success? hanced personal quality of life through

The scale of those ambitions is seen in better connectivity, especially if you’re the network infrastructure required. reading this online.

To deliver Støldal’s “new mobile com- However, the words ‘mobile at sea’ munications reality” MCP must install have the ability to strike fear into any a latticework of 4G base stations and cost conscious service consumer. Prices control systems across the entire terri- often have a reputation for being on the tory, situating the technology on existing vertigo-inducing side of high. So, will offshore infrastructure, such as oil and this service be any different?

gas platforms. This will facilitate high Støldal smiles. It’s too early, he in- capacity networks (which can be closed/ timates, to give away exact details of internal for companies transferring busi- the pricing structure, but it will be in ness critical information) close to instal- keeping with standard Telenor mobile lations and activity hubs, while qual- roaming costs, which, he says, are “very ity, real-time broadband services can be competitive” (Telenor’s website shows pushed further to the very remotest parts packages such as Feriesurf EU, which of operating ? elds. allows 40mb of data a day for $4.38). “This isn’t a completely new propo- “If you compare it to the cost of using sition for us though,” the MCP chief is satellite services,” he continues, “which quick to impart, stating that the ? rm al- is the current standard, it’s a signi? cant ready operates a GSM (2G) service on price reduction… just a fraction of the the NCS, connecting offshore vessels cost. for ? rms such as Subsea7, Gulf Offshore That will enable companies to rely and DeepOcean. more on communication, data transfer

But GSM isn’t 4G. Surely that incurs etc., meaning, for example, they could new agreements, new technology and a carry out tasks onshore in the future that new installation strategy? have to be done offshore today. There’s “Yes,” Støldal admits, “there will be a huge ef? ciencies there. “I think custom- greater need for new infrastructure, but ers will see the value in that, don’t you?” that’s already started moving.”

Originally, he explains, MCP had New frontiers planned to begin LTE roll out in 2015. On the subject of rolling out 4G be-

However, the industry appeal of the ser- yond the NCS, Støldal is equally enthu- vice has fast-tracked initial agreements, siastic, yet coy. “If you look at our po- with the ? rst 4G base station being in- sition in cruise and ferry we’re a global stalled – potentially as you read this – business,” he states, “and of course we’d on Shell’s Draugen platform, 150 km like to emulate that in the offshore mar- off the coast of Kristiansund. All work ket. And I think we can. But this is the there should be ? nalised before the end ? rst project of its kind and we’re going of 2014. to take it step by step to ensure every- “They (the owners) see the bene? ts,” thing is in place and the service is of the

Støldal opines, “and that openness, that optimal quality. “After that,” he said, appreciation of the potential here, will “well, we’ll see…” help us as we build the network.” There’ll be plenty of vessel and rig

But are those bene? ts worth the costs? crews globally that should ‘like’ the

Readers will be able to appreciate that sound of that.

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