Internet on the Ocean

    The Challenge

    The internet is not easily accessible in many areas of the world, like the Earth’s oceans. Fishermen, sailors, and others have limited data connection with the rest of the world. Although satellite internet is widely available, it is very expensive for a user to implement. Your challenge is to design a low-cost method of delivering internet to people located far away on the ocean.

    Background

    Humans are becoming more reliant on internet connectivity as each year passes. For those who are located in populated urban areas, internet access is usually available at a reasonable cost. But if someone is remotely located, they usually rely on satellite internet or dial-up providers. Some satellite providers cover only certain areas of the globe, so these solutions may not be accessible to every user. If someone wants to access the internet from Earth’s oceans, there is usually a very high cost associated with the satellite connectivity. Additionally, the user equipment and data plan are expensive. However, some commercial companies are planning to launch large satellite constellations for internet connectivity, which may bring some of these costs down for users but may still be cost-prohibitive for some users.

    Your challenge is to design a low-cost method of delivering internet to people located on the ocean. Propose a rough cost of how much a user would have to pay for their equipment, as well as a data plan for different bandwidth allocations. How does your plan compare with various commercial satellite internet providers?

    Potential Considerations

    • Your idea is not restricted to only ground-based or only space-based solutions, but should consider the costs involved in the development and maintenance of each environment. Keep in mind that space-based solutions tend to be expensive.
    • One of the ways to save costs is to use existing technology, known as Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) products. How can you integrate existing technology to keep your development and implementation costs to a minimum?
    • Consider how important it will be to make sure each packet of data makes it across the network. Review NASA’s ‘Disruption Tolerant Networking’ technology and why it is considered important. How do other technologies or networks take this into consideration?
    • Are there any other ground-based solutions for remote users accessing the internet? Can you improve on this technology or incorporate it for ocean-based users?
    • Why do users need access to the internet while on the ocean? How will enabling this technology increase the benefit for humankind?
    • Optional Consideration: Does your solution also satisfy the needs of remote internet users on land? How can your technology address those users as well?