Mobiles connect across the waves

Merchant seafarers will be able to communicate with their families

The days of running off to sea to escape problems on land could be over as mobile connectivity hits the ocean.

Irish mobile maritime communications company Blue Ocean Wireless has teamed up with picocell developer ip.access to develop the system.

For crews, separated from their families for months on end, the ability to be able to make and receive calls from their mobiles will be a big boon.

Previously merchant ship crews had to rely on expensive satellite phones.

The new system will also rely on satellite communication. A picocell - a small base station that extends mobile coverage - will be installed in accommodation areas of the ship.

Connected to a remote gateway, it will convert a mobile call into a narrowband IP signal for transmission over the satellite network.

Picocells are increasingly being used to extend mobile coverage to places where exterior signals cannot penetrate, such as office buildings, ships and aircrafts.