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The Scottish Futures Trust has announced that thousands of tourists and travellers in the remote archipelago of Orkney (Northern Scotland) are set to benefit from “complimentary ultra-fast internet access“, which comes after three local ferries were upgraded to harness Starlink’s global LEO satellite broadband network – supporting onboard WiFi.
The upgrade will also benefit ferry staff via enhanced operational efficiency, including improved back-office functions, maintenance tasks, and electronic transactions. In adverse weather conditions, this online connectivity also equips ship captains with more information on weather and sea conditions during their journeys.
The deployment forms part of a 9-month pilot on the Outer North Isles ferry services managed by Orkney Ferries, which has been funded by the Scottish Government (SG) and managed by the Scottish Futures Trust in collaboration with Orkney-based ISP CloudNet IT Solutions, the Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Ferries and Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE).
The service promises to share onboard broadband speeds of “at least” 200Mbps.
Business Minister, Richard Lochhead, said:
“The technology behind this pilot has a tremendous potential to improve travel for island commuters and visitors.
By trialling advanced connectivity on our public transport, we are not only making journeys much more enjoyable and productive, but also taking a significant step towards bridging the digital divide in our rural and island communities.
This initiative strengthens the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring that every citizen, regardless of location, can access improved public services and opportunities.”
Councillor Mellissa Thomson, Chair of the Board of Orkney Ferries, said:
“Some routes can take as long as three hours, making this pilot excellent news for our passengers by providing them a seamless digital service throughout their journey, allowing them to connect with friends, family, or conduct important business.”
Assuming the pilot goes well, which we expect it will (Starlink is already being used on other maritime vessels, such as cruise ships), then we could see the same service being adopted on “other longer ferry routes across Scotland“.