Secure, Uninterrupted Offshore Communications: the TECNEL Project

A leading Italian multinational—recognized globally in engineering and energy infrastructure, with extensive offshore experience—entrusted us with the design of a tailor-made communication system for 15 vessels in its fleet, of various sizes. These highly specialized units are dedicated to drilling, construction, heavy lifting, and subsea pipeline laying—activities that are essential for the extraction and transport of fuels offshore.

The challenge: reliable communications in critical environments

The customer’s request involved multiple challenges driven by the type of loads and the vessel’s complex structure. The combination of these critical factors can create dead zones and signal loss on board—typical of environments with high metal reflection—making it necessary to design a dedicated system by placing DECT cells in strategic locations.
A further critical aspect concerned some areas of the vessel classified as explosion-risk (ATEX). Therefore, both the cells and the devices used in those zones had to comply with specific ATEX regulations.

The solution: a tailor-made DECT system

The designed system is based on a Spectralink DECT platform, consisting of six physical servers and two virtual servers, connected to approximately 130 ATEX-certified cordless handsets. To ensure full coverage across the entire vessel, 300 IP-DECT cells were installed, carefully positioned in strategic locations. The key strength of this project lies in the SRB-IP-ATEX cells, designed by TECNEL to ensure safety and regulatory compliance. In explosion-risk areas, the DECT units were installed inside these enclosures, specifically developed for ATEX environments. In addition, the system can automatically adapt to the DECT frequencies used in different geographic regions, allowing the vessel to maintain stable, uninterrupted communications while at sea.

Results

Thanks to the solution designed by TECNEL, with the support of partner Spectralink and supplier Allnet.Italia, our customer achieved a significant improvement in the quality and reliability of onboard communications.