Turkcell to offer uninterrupted Internet access at sea

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey’s leading cellphone operator Turkcell announced Friday that it developed an automatic rotating antenna to enable uninterrupted Internet connectivity at sea.

Developed by Turkcell engineers, the patented device which can be installed on sea vehicles such as ferries, will automatically switch its direction in accordance with the vessel's movement in order to receive the strongest signal from the nearest communication unit on land, a statement said.

"This will enable uninterrupted 4.5G coverage," it said, adding the antenna was successfully tested on several fast ferries connecting Istanbul's Yenikapi district to Yalova province located on the eastern coast of the inland Sea of Marmara.

Executive Vice President of Network Technologies, Gediz Sezgin said that the rotating antenna would put an end to disruptions in Internet connectivity at sea, caused mostly by big losses of signal due to geographical conditions.

"Thanks to this system, our customers will now be able to enjoy uninterrupted and quality communication while they are traveling by sea," he said.

"In one sense, the speed of Turkcell will catch the speed of [fast] ferries," he added.

In Turkey, GSM-based mobile communication began when Turkcell commenced operations in 1994.

Since then, it has continuously expanded its services based on mobile audio and data communication.