Home Page ContentPress Releases MTN SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS COMPLETES MAJOR UPGRADE OF WI-FI NETWORK ABOARD SILVERSEA CRUISES’ SHIPS

MTN SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS COMPLETES MAJOR UPGRADE OF WI-FI NETWORK ABOARD SILVERSEA CRUISES’ SHIPS

by david.nunes

Passengers and Crew Have Access to High-Speed Internet Connections When Cruising on the High Seas

MIRAMAR, Fla. – Oct. 28, 2010 – (Marine NewsWire) MTN Satellite Communications (MTN), the leading global provider of communications, connectivity and content services to remote locations around the world, recently completed a major Wi-Fi network upgrade and expansion aboard two Silversea Cruises vessels, Silver Wind and its flagship Silver Spirit.

“With the new upgraded MTN Wi-Fi network, passengers and crew can access high-quality wireless Internet connections anywhere on the ship,” said Jason Cohn, manager of IT shipboard infrastructure, Silversea Cruises. “We believe this gives us a competitive edge in the cruise marketplace, and we will work with MTN over the coming months to roll out the Wi-Fi service across the other ships in our fleet.”

The new MTN Wi-Fi networks installed on Silver Wind and Silver Spirit provide high-speed wireless Internet connectivity throughout the ships, including passenger cabins, public spaces, outside decks and pool area, as well as crew quarters. The Wi-Fi systems leverage MTN’s worldwide broadband satellite network for high-speed data links between ship and shore, and incorporate state-of-the-art distributed-network technology from Aruba Networks with technical installation support by HMS, Inc.

“Today’s cruise passengers increasingly expect the same comforts and conveniences they get when staying in a luxury hotel or resort, and that includes ubiquitous high-speed Internet connections to send and receive emails, follow their favorite websites and update their social media pages,” said Brent Horwitz, senior vice president, MTN cruise and ferry services. “As the pioneer of cruise ship VSAT communications for more than 20 years, MTN is taking the lead in bringing state-of-the-art broadband Wi-Fi connectivity to the cruise industry to meet the ever-increasing use of mobile devices and demand for always-on Internet access at sea.”

With the completion of Silversea Cruises’ upgrades, MTN now provides Wi-Fi networks and Internet cafés on more than 165 cruise ships worldwide, according to Horwitz.

“Deploying a robust high-performance ship-wide Wi-Fi network on Silver Wind and Silver Spirit presented special challenges, since the ships’ dense metal infrastructure affects radio-frequency propagation in complex ways,” said Frederic Billardon, director of engineering, HMS Miami. “We managed to overcome the technical hurdles and create a ‘bullet-proof’ network solution using advanced RF engineering and supplying Aruba Networks thin access point technology.”

MTN offers a wide range of communication and IT services for passengers and crew sailing on the Silversea cruise ships, including MTN Worldwide TV, which delivers live television programming from major international news and entertainment channels to ships at sea throughout the world, added Horwitz.

About MTN Satellite Communications


MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) is the global service provider of communications, connectivity, and content services to remote locations around the world. MTN’s maritime VSAT solutions and global satellite communications network offer the reliability that only “Always On – Always Available” systems can provide. More than 600 vessels and land-based terminals worldwide, including commercial ships, offshore drilling and production sites, cruise ships, government and military vessels, private yachts, and ferries depend on MTN’s voice and data networks to allow them to “be in the middle of nowhere and at the center of everything.” Premium services include remote access for Internet, fixed and mobile phones, fax, television, onboard newspapers, banking services, direct payroll deposit for crew, and other enterprise solutions. MTN is based in Miramar, Fla. and has offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.mtnsat.com.

About Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit – all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the inclusion of the regal expedition ship Prince Albert II, the company’s itineraries encompass all seven continents. In the U.S., Silversea has been voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (nine times) and Travel + Leisure (seven times), and rated Number-One luxury cruise line by high-net-worth consumers in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI). For more information, visit www.silversea.com.

About HMS, Inc.

HMS is a system integrator, specializing in cruise ship deployments. With offices in Italy, France, Finland, and the United States, HMS provides turnkey systems installation and services while the ships are under construction at the shipyards and during the life of the ships anywhere in the world.

Press Contacts:

Katherine Estacio
+1.206.838.7700 office
+1.206.390.0482 mobile
katherine.estacio@mtnsat.com

Jim Rhodes
+1.757.451.0602 office
jrhodes@rhodescomm.com

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