Ferries get onboard Wi-Fi

If you're crossing the Solent to or from the Isle of Wight by ferry, you will now be able to access the web as you sail.

Wightlink, the company that runs the ferry service to and from the Isle of Wight from Portsmouth and Lymington, has installed wireless networks on board to allow crew and passengers to log on.

"By equipping our ferries with always-on, high-speed broadband technology, we're able to ensure our captains and crew have instant access to online resources throughout the voyage," said Andrew Willson, Wightlink’s chief executive.

The equipment was supplied by Moovera Networks and utilises HSPA (high-speed packet access) technology similar to that used by companies such as Vodafone and 3 to provide mobile broadband.

Anyone using the service can expect to get speeds of up to 3.6Mbps, according to the company.

"Wightlink's deployment on passenger ferries is the largest of its kind in the UK to date, and creates a solid platform for a host of vessel and passenger-oriented services in the future," said Jim Baker, founder and chief executive of Moovera Networks.

www.moovera.com
www.wightlink.co.uk