A 4G, Vodafone mobile network has been deployed by Vilicom at the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm, around 50 miles off the East Yorkshire coast in the North Sea.
Vilicom and Vodafone worked in collaboration for two years to bring Hornsea 2 staff, users and vessels 4G mobile connectivity, which will now be maintained from facilities at Grimsby’s Royal Dock.
Vilicom has built and will power the infrastructure to enable workers to access the data and information systems needed for the operation of the wind farm.
Staff will also be able to use this network on personal devices in to stay in touch with friends and family while they’re working offshore.
The wind farm, which covers a vast area of close to 300 square miles, went live earlier this year and is capable of powering over 1.4 million UK homes.
Vilicom chief executive, Sean Keating, said: “We’re delighted to play our part in a cleaner, greener future. The completion of this network is a huge achievement for Vilicom, Vodafone and Ørsted teams.
“Not only have we overcome the unique set of challenges involved in deploying a mobile network in the middle of the North Sea, but we have also accomplished this feat of engineering during a pandemic, with difficult operational circumstances.”
