A Norwegian shipmanagement group has initiated programmes to control crew access after installing terminals to connect with Elon Musk’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications network, Starlink
Stödig Ship Management has implemented SpaceX Starlink satellite communications and software to manage crew internet access, vessel safety and documentation.
The Bergen, Norway-headquartered can now allocate crew around 5 GB of data per week over the low Earth orbit Starlink constellation.
Stödig is using IT management programme Dualog Quota to monitor connectivity and limit access to crew to prevent cost overruns from the low-latency communications and UniSea to manage onboard IT and administration.
"Starlink is a game changer," says Stödig Ship Management head of IT, Jan Eide. "We now have reliable internet with enough bandwidth and low latency to do almost anything.
"This has not only made it easier to stay in touch with family and friends, but it has also improved work efficiency on board."
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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