CalMac Ferry Passengers in Scotland to Get Faster Onboard Broadband

People travelling on CalMac‘s (Caledonian MacBrayne) ferries, which serve the Islands and Peninsulas on Scotland’s west coast, look set to benefit from faster onboard WiFi internet connectivity after Clarus Networks secured a major 12-month contract to provide Starlink (LEO satellite) connectivity to the UK’s largest ferry operator.

The contract, awarded via Public Contracts Scotland, will see Clarus deliver a “pooled Starlink data service” across CalMac’s operational fleet, offering high-speed, low-latency broadband connectivity designed to enhance operational performance, crew welfare, and passenger experience on board.

Operating 29 routes to more than 50 destinations across 200 miles of Scotland’s west coast, CalMac’s fleet completes around 136,000 sailings each year – often providing a vital lifeline service to remote communities and supporting Scotland’s tourism sector. In such a geographically dispersed and operationally demanding environment, resilient connectivity is vital.

Chris Schonhut, Director of Maritime and Energy at Clarus Networks, said:

“We’re delighted to partner with CalMac to enhance connectivity across their fleet. Starlink’s LEO satellite network offers huge potential for improving maritime operations, and our Aavora platform ensures it can be managed simply and effectively at scale. This contract is a great example of how technology can support critical infrastructure and communities in remote parts of Scotland.”

David Gammie, IT Director at Calmac, said:

“Reliable connectivity is a foundational element of the Technology & Digital infrastructure to run a modern ferry service that supports both crew operations and customer needs. Clarus’ experience in maritime deployments and their fleet-wide connectivity management capabilities will help us deliver a better-connected service across the ferry network.”

Sadly, the announcement doesn’t provide any sort of timeline for the deployment, although it’s worth noting that many of their Ferries do already have onboard WiFi (i.e. it may only be the satellite backhaul that needs an upgrade to Starlink for passenger connectivity to benefit).

Under the agreement, Clarus will deliver:

• Starlink satellite connectivity for each vessel, using a pooled data model to maximise efficiency and minimise cost across the fleet.

• Configuration and technical support for all Starlink hardware and associated systems.

• Access to Aavora, Clarus’ proprietary Starlink fleet and terminal management platform, designed to give CalMac complete visibility and control of all vessel connections in one place.

• Fleet-wide pooled data – allowing dynamic bandwidth allocation across all vessels, ensuring that high-demand routes receive additional capacity when needed, reducing costs and enhancing overall service quality to crew and customers.

• Proactive monitoring and 24/7 support to ensure service continuity and optimise performance in real time