BC Ferries in British Columbia, Canada, has announced a new partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to provide Wi-Fi for ferry crews while at sea. This collaboration aims to address the longstanding issue of unreliable internet service on ferries, which led to the discontinuation of onboard internet for passengers in 2021.
CEO Nicolas Jimenez recently spoke at a Greater Vancouver Board of Trade event about the challenges of offering reliable internet on ferries. While Starlink now offers more affordable marine internet solutions for crews, extending this service to passengers presents a much larger challenge due to the high number of users on major routes.
Jimenez emphasized that providing Wi-Fi for 30-40 crew members is vastly different from accommodating up to 1,400 passengers. He stated that BC Ferries is cautious about reintroducing internet service if it would result in increased ticket prices for passengers.
Currently, the focus will be on testing Starlink for crew use. Jimenez mentioned that the company needs time to evaluate its partnership with Starlink before considering passenger service again. BC Ferries had initially introduced onboard Wi-Fi in 2010, but the system became overwhelmed by the number of users over the years, leading to its removal in 2021.
The decision to discontinue onboard internet was also influenced by the high costs associated with restoring the service, with the expenses likely to be passed on to passengers. Jimenez highlighted the rising operating and capital costs for BC Ferries, indicating that fares might need to increase by 30% by 2028 to keep up with demand.
While some critics have argued that BC Ferries is making excuses for not providing internet service to passengers, the company is taking a cautious approach to ensure that any future initiatives are sustainable and cost-effective. By partnering with Starlink, BC Ferries aims to improve connectivity for crew members at sea and potentially explore options for enhancing internet services for passengers in the future.