When it comes to delivering reliable WiFi in offshore environments—whether on vessels, oil rigs, or platforms—the challenges are unique and often misunderstood. One of the most common issues we encounter arises from the very structure of these sites: they’re built from metal. While essential for strength and safety, these metal environments create significant hurdles for wireless networks.
Metal: A WiFi Signal’s Worst Enemy
Unlike materials like wood or plaster, metal doesn’t allow WiFi signals to pass through easily. Instead of penetrating walls and bulkheads, WiFi signals reflect off them. Think of it like shouting in a room full of mirrors—the sound bounces back at you from all angles. With WiFi, these signal reflections create interference, causing your device to struggle to make sense of the information. This leads to errors, retries, and the frustratingly slow or unreliable connections that users report.
The Misconception: “Just Turn the Power Up”
It’s a natural assumption: if the signal is weak, crank up the power. But in offshore environments, this often does more harm than good. When we increase the power of a WiFi access point, the strength of the reflections also increases. The result? Even more interference, more confusion for devices trying to connect, and more performance issues.
The Real Solution: Less Power, Smarter Design
The key to effective offshore WiFi is not brute force, but careful planning. By reducing the power output of access points, we limit the distance that signals travel before they hit a reflective surface. This reduces the number of reflected signals and helps devices receive clearer, more direct communication.
Equally important is proper positioning of access points. Strategic placement ensures that devices are always close to a source of clean signal, minimizing reliance on signals that have bounced multiple times across the structure. In some cases, it’s better to have more access points operating at lower power, carefully placed to cover specific zones, rather than fewer high-power units trying to cover large areas.
Have you wondered why you’re having more WiFi issues since installing LEO?
Over the years, many offshore operators have installed WiFi systems that are now outdated and no longer fit for purpose. In the past, slow connectivity speeds masked these shortcomings — poor WiFi performance wasn’t as noticeable because the connection was already limited.
With the introduction of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity, offshore sites can now access far faster and more reliable internet connections. As a result, many existing WiFi networks are revealing their limitations — the weak point is no longer the satellite link, but the ageing onboard WiFi infrastructure.
Vital WiFi’s NaaS solution eliminates these headaches. We take responsibility for delivering a high-performance network, freeing you to focus on your core operations without worrying about connectivity issues.
Our Approach
At Vital WiFi, we specialise in designing WiFi networks specifically for the offshore industry. Our solutions account for the unique challenges of metal structures, providing reliable connectivity for crews, passengers, and critical systems alike. Before we “turn the power up,” we look at the full picture—signal mapping, access point placement, and power settings—to deliver WiFi that works where and when you need it most.
In Summary
More power doesn’t mean better WiFi offshore. In fact, it can make things worse. The real solution lies in understanding the environment and designing the network accordingly. Next time you’re tempted to dial up the power, consider that sometimes, less really is more.
Let’s Build Offshore WiFi That Works — With No Upfront Cost
If you’re facing WiFi challenges offshore, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn how our Network as a Service (NaaS) solution can deliver reliable, high-performance connectivity — with no upfront investment required.
Our NaaS package includes:
- A professional heatmap survey that accounts for your vessel’s construction materials
- Best practice access point placement to reduce interference and improve performance
- Ruckus access points, featuring the latest WiFi technology
- A fully managed service, ensuring your network is configured and maintained in line with your specific requirements
- A crew welfare usage management portal, allowing you to fairly distribute your data allowance between crew and control usage
- 24/7/365 support via our in-house Network Operations Centre (NOC)
Simple, flexible pricing starts at just £10 per access point per month.
Get in touch now and let’s create a network that meets the demands of your offshore operations.
