Starlink roll out prompts crew data quotas to control connectivity

Despite the many benefits, Starlink also brought some challenges, particularly concerning cost control and fair distribution of internet access.

"How could we ensure that everyone on board had a good experience without skyrocketing costs?" asked Mr Eide.

A solution to these challenges was Dualog Quota, which gives Stödig full control over data usage on these vessels. Each crew member now receives 5 GB of data per week, which totals around 20 GB per month. "Without a quota system, it would not have been possible to offer this kind of freedom to the crew," said Mr Eide.

"We would have had to implement other technical limitations, like throttling speeds, which would have seriously affected the user experience.”

Using Dualog Quota, crew can access internet either through an application or they can set up a username and password to access online services from any mobile device. 

Dualog Quota works with UniSea programs on these vessels and enables Stödig to offer internet quotas to external clients staying on its offshore vessels.

"The internet is now offered as part of the hotel and service offering they receive, all with full cost control," said Mr Eide.

Based on feedback from Stödig, Dualog is enhancing the digital experience on board for all users and will enable crew members to manage their internet quota and speed directly using the online application.

“We also aim to help crew optimise their data usage by reducing background activity on their devices and offering the option to stream movies and videos in lower resolution,” said Dualog product manager Vidar Berg.

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