Viasat venture Inmarsat Maritime has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with energy company Aramco to begin trial work on building a 5G “mesh” network that will provide high-bandwidth connectivity to Aramco’s offshore operations in the Arabian Gulf.
This follows the successful completion of outdoor network testing at Rutland Water in the UK in February, demonstrating reliable and high-throughput millimeter wave (mmWave) signal propagation over water.
Further testing of the 5G Mobile Integrated Access and Backhaul (mIAB) network and Inmarsat Maritime’s specific development and performance under extreme local weather conditions is expected to take place later this year. Once all trials are complete, the manufacturer expects 5G mesh to become the world’s first long-range, high-throughput maritime deployment mIAB, far beyond the up to 1km range previously possible. doing.
This technology is said to be capable of high-speed communications while meeting the demands of local climates such as extreme heat, sandstorms, wind, and water evaporation. Aramco can leverage this to optimize offshore operations through intelligent remote maintenance and operations. This includes monitoring and measurement with IoT sensors, operational assistance for staff equipped with augmented reality headsets, new safety and security features, and the potential for cost savings and efficient energy use.
Ben Palmer OBE, President of Inmarsat Maritime, said: “Our technology provides the elements for truly bespoke solutions and our exciting new partnership with Aramco is the latest example of this. The new 5G mesh technology will be an important step in supporting Aramco.” Maximize jobsite efficiency, improve sustainability, provide a better experience for workers, and protect your business from cyberattacks. By combining many proven technologies into one integrated ecosystem, our combined network becomes a single solution that can meet all customer demands, no matter how challenging. environment. ”
Nabil Al Nuaim, Aramco’s senior vice president of digital and information technology, said: “Extending high-speed connectivity to remote locations and harsh offshore sites through 5G mesh technology will enable companies to advance their digital journey. “We aim to accelerate our plans to introduce new use cases.” “Transformation vision. This is expected to further optimize our operations and improve the working environment for our operators. Our cooperation with Viasat will carry out the world’s first sea trials of 5G mesh technology This is a testament to our commitment to advanced development and deployment.” Collaborating with technology leaders and leveraging on-the-ground operational experience is a key component to successful technology development. ”
