MCP sees record growth in mobile communications at sea

Mobile communications in the cruise industry is booming and for Maritime Communications Partner, the figures are proof of an astounding growth rate and profits.

"We experienced an average of 180% increase in data traffic with record passenger and crew use of mobile internet and smart phone services in 2011.  We expect this to grow substantially in 2012," said Fred Sorensen, Managing Director MCP, Americas.

Passengers are increasingly making use of onboard wireless services to access a broad range of web-based services, using their smartphones and other handheld devices to keep in touch with family, friends and work, surf the net, update social media pages, texting and reading e-mails.  In addition to improving the passenger experience, these premium services generate significant on-board revenue.

MCP estimates a record number 9.300.000 users of CellAtSea in 2011, and with several new cruise fleets in the MCP network pipeline, this figure will increase significantly during the next 12 months.

"Currently 130 cruise and ferry vessels are contracted to our global wireless network services. We are especially excited about our latest successes with Norwegian Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises" said Sorensen.

Recently landing a contract with a major European cruise line, its first cruise contract in the Mediterranean, MCP is rapidly increasing its foothold in this market where they have seen great success with leading passenger and ferry operations including Corsica Ferries, Grimaldi Line, GNV and others.

The cruise contract covers GSM (voice and SMS), GPRS, and CrewSim™ services. MCP assumes complete turnkey installation for a newbuild - including the delivery of network equipment and services, engineering and product management, network design, operation, and system integration.

Further, MCP will supply GSM, CDMA, mobile internet and CrewSIM services to ten of eleven vessels in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet as well as two yet-to-be launched cruise ships currently under construction at Meyerwerft in Papenburg, Germany.  The two newbuildings, set for delivery in April of 2013 and 2014 respectively, will be outfitted with an antenna network enabling future migration to 3G and LTE technologies.

"Our aim is to lead the mobile revolution at sea by providing an array of new products and services. Backed by a solid bottom line, a growing fleet of cutting edge cruise ships and partnerships with future technology-minded cruise owners, MCP has become the industry's most innovative onboard communications provider," concludes Sorensen.

About Maritime Communications Partner:

Maritime Communications Partner (MCP) is the leading onboard communications partner.  The company has developed unique technical solutions, providing mobile telephony coverage for people onboard major cruise ships and ferries worldwide, delivering a premium service to MCP's customers. MCP offices are located centrally in Arendal, Norway and Miami, (FL) USA. MCP is fully owned by Telenor ASA, one of the world's major mobile operators. Through Telenor, MCP has access to a wide range of competence and resources within market, product, innovation and content development.

For more information about MCP, please visit: www.mcp.com

Egon Vik
Market Communications Manager, MCP
egon.vik@mcp.com
+47 90 97 44 77