MTN Communications claims number of TBN-connected cruise ships has doubled

Since the MTN TBN kick-off in Alaska in the Summer 2013 cruise season, several MTN partners, including Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, are leveraging this new technology for passenger and crew communications.  he MTN hybrid network delivers approximately 10 terabytes of data daily. The company enabled more than 33m Internet logins last year.
 
The MTN TBN optimizes the on-board bandwidth available to passengers and crew, especially when their ships enter port. TBN connectivity enables up to six times more bandwidth for communications and content sharing on the ship.
 
MTN launched its TBN as one key component of its advanced hybrid communications ecosystem enabling ships to connect through a first-ever hybrid network that seamlessly switches from satellite to the TBN, delivering higher network performance and speeds. The company reports its new Connect@Sea Internet platform delivers a higher level of service, along with new per-megabyte billing versus per-minute. The MTN TBN also optimizes corporate IT data so it flows through vessel networks more efficiently, freeing up space for additional applications.
 
MTN access points now cover the East and West coasts of the US, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the UK.
 
'The reason behind launching the MTN TBN was to allow our customers to leverage a more practical communications "pipe" while in port, versus costly satellite bandwidth,' said Brent Horwitz, svp and general manager, cruise and ferry services, MTN.