A 4G network has been successfully deployed across the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
Connectivity of Orsted’s Hornsea Two will power critical data and information systems on the site, operated and maintained from Grimsby’s Royal Dock, while allowing hundreds of employees to stay in touch with friends and family while at sea.
Vilicom was appointed to work on the 472 sq km site, 44 miles off the East Yorkshire coast in July 2020. Together with representatives from Vodafone, teams have liaised closely for two years to build the communication infrastructure in tandem with the installation of the 165 turbines. The remote location and curvature of the earth were challenges to tackle.
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Patrick Harnett, vice president of UK programme at Orsted said: “It is so important to have a 4G network that allows us to improve the efficiency of construction and operations of the world’s largest offshore wind farm. It’s also very important for our colleagues working out at sea to be able to connect back home to their friends and families.”
The wind farm became fully operational in August, and has the capacity to provide green electricity for 1.4 million homes.
During the construction phase, Vilicom also delivered a temporary solution to provide connectivity to the employees working across a five-vessel fleet of floating offices.
Sean Keating, chief executive of Vilicom, said: “At Vilicom 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 Orsted 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.”
Vilicom, which is based in Dublin and Reading and is an expert in deploying state of the art wireless solutions in complex environments, was acquired last year by the global communications infrastructure provider BAI. It is currently working with Transport for London on full underground connectivity.
Nick Gliddon, business director, Vodafone UK said: ”Building a complete mobile infrastructure on an offshore wind farm is a technical challenge, but I’m delighted we’re able to provide the connectivity that Orsted’s Hornsea Two needs to connect to the outside world and be efficiently managed. It is testament to the great collaboration between us and Vilicom. Vodafone has committed to reach net zero in our UK operations by 2027, so it's brilliant to be involved in a project bringing new renewable power to the UK.”
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