Connectivity Company’s Tampnet has won a five-year contract with Norwegian offshore drilling contractor Island Drilling AS, providing the next-generation communication stack for the island’s innovator, the tough environmental semi-submarble rig.
The network said it will combine satellite, LTE and fiber connections to ensure “seamless connectivity wherever the rig is operating.”
Specifically, Tampnet’s North Sea LTE network and T-FAST microwave/fiber backbone are integrated with Starlink and one web low-earth orbit satellite.
This is combined with an AI-driven orchestration layer to automatically reroute traffic across optimal paths, providing power to a fully managed private 4G/5G network.
This transaction is because digitization has become an increasingly common (and expected) part of offshore operations, with networks aimed at electric tools such as sensors, drones, and robotics. These tools support smart features such as remote inspection, predictive maintenance, and real-time crew support.
“A well-connected rig is no longer great. It’s the backbone of remote operation and data-driven decision-making,” said Trygve Hagevik, CCO at Tampnet. “By blending LEO, LTE, LOS/fiber with real-time AI traffic steering and private networks, we provide the freedom to add the required performance and resilience to island drilling, as well as scaling advanced use cases such as predictive maintenance, digital twins, and autonomous inspection.”
Roger Simmers, CEO of Island Drilling AS, added:
The new network will be rolled out before the island’s innovators launch their next North Sea campaign at the end of this year, according to the partners.
