Shipping giant Maersk has teamed up with IoT connectivity gurus Onomondo to roll out OneWireless, the largest private network designed for life at sea.
Think of it like giving 450 of Maersk’s colossus vessels their own super-fast, super-reliable mobile network. This isn’t just about letting the crew stream movies; it’s a massive step up for how these floating cities of cargo operate, enabling them to send and receive data in real-time like never before.
The new wave of global IoT connectivity
For years, maritime communication has chugged along on older 2G infrastructure. Reliable, but not exactly built for the data-hungry world of modern IoT devices.
OneWireless is dragging maritime comms firmly into the 21st century, enabling super-smooth, high-speed connections that support all the latest cellular tech for smart devices – things like NB-IoT, LTE-M, and standard LTE.
So, what’s the secret sauce? A key ingredient is Onomondo’s software-defined IoT Evolved Packet Core (EPC) – essentially, the brains of the mobile network, but shrunk down and installed onto each of those 450 ships. This creates a robust, private 4G bubble around each vessel.
The really cool part? This local network keeps humming along even if the ship’s main satellite link (its traditional connection to the outside world) temporarily drops out. This tackles a long-standing headache in maritime IoT: those frustrating communication “blind spots” that have always limited what’s possible. With OneWireless, Maersk is aiming for a new era of efficiency and innovation at sea.
Henrik Aagaard, CTO and Cofounder at Onomondo, said: “We’re supporting continuous LTE connectivity. Maersk’s OneWireless solution enables real-time data transmission across land, ports, and sea with this new LTE network.
“Continuous connectivity means granular visibility, enabling Maersk’s customers to monitor cargo conditions, optimise operations, and respond to changing circumstances with agility.”
A single network for current and future IoT needs at sea
Previously, connecting things up on a ship and making sure they could talk to land-based systems was a complex juggling act. Onomondo’s approach simplifies all this by providing a single network that handles everything – current 4G needs and even a clear path to future 5G IoT tech.
This single network means devices can automatically and securely hop between the ship’s private 4G network and public 4G networks on land without anyone needing to fiddle with SIM cards or change settings. Imagine your phone seamlessly switching from your home Wi-Fi to your mobile data as you leave the house, but on an industrial scale across a global fleet.
This flexibility even turns Onomondo into a kind of specialist mobile network operator for the maritime world. They can allow devices with SIM cards from other global mobile companies to connect to the ship’s network. This opens the door to a true “Bring Your Own IoT Device” (BYOIoT) model at sea – a big deal for flexibility and getting different systems to work together smoothly.
Some of the key benefits of OneWireless:
- A powerful mini mobile network hub right on board: Each of the 450 ships gets its own local 4G core, ensuring IoT devices keep working, satellite or no satellite.
- Smooth sailing between networks: Devices can switch easily between the ship’s private network and regular land-based 4G networks worldwide.
- Open for business (BYOIoT style!): It supports SIM cards from other major mobile network operators, making it easier to connect all sorts of third-party gadgets.
- Enhanced security: Modern 4G brings much stronger security and reliability with its two-way authentication, a big step up from older 2G systems.
For Maersk, this is more than just a tech upgrade; it’s a new standard for how things get done at sea. The IoT network enables real-time tracking of sensitive cargo (like refrigerated containers, or “reefers”), a much clearer view of the entire supply chain, and smarter, more efficient ship operations across the whole fleet at sea or in port.
Moving from 2G to 4G also means a fundamental shift in how data is collected and used, promising to transform maritime logistics with constant updates and the ability to react faster to changing conditions.
Kjeld Dittmann, Head of Vessel & Cargo Connectivity at Maersk, commented: “With our next-generation connectivity platform, we will be able to offer our customers notable benefits, including real-time cargo tracking, enhanced supply chain visibility, and improved operational efficiency.
“This platform is designed to support thousands of IoT devices, ensuring optimal performance for reefer tracking and fleet IoT.”
Onomondo isn’t going it alone; they’re part of a tech dream team that makes OneWireless possible, alongside other key players like Nokia, 42com Sat, Complea, and ZEDEDA. The rollout kicked off in late 2024 and will continue through to 2026, with installations timed during scheduled port stops to make sure there’s no disruption to Maersk’s busy shipping schedules.
Once fully up and running, OneWireless will be the digital backbone for Maersk’s entire connected fleet, opening up new possibilities for knowing exactly where cargo is and what condition it’s in, anywhere in the world. It’s a clear signal that the shipping world is sailing full steam ahead into a smarter, more connected future.
See also: Vodafone taps IoT and AI to help protect National Parks
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