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Improved Wi-Fi for Cruise Ships via 6 GHz Thanks to the FCC and Cisco

Passengers and crew aboard cruise ships will soon be enjoying hugely improved Wi-Fi – Thanks to some new rules passed by the FCC and Cisco. 

A while back we reported on Cisco petitioning the FCC to allow 6 GHz Wi-Fi on cruise ships. Cisco first proposed the idea to the cruise industry back in January 2024, and ever since Cisco has been working with the FCC to get the rules changed. 

And now, as of February this year, the FCC has proposed a new rule which would allow 6 GHz Wi-Fi to be deployed and operated on cruise ships. 

This is great news for cruise passengers (as well as the crew) who will no longer have to suffer with sub-par Wi-Fi services on board the boat. Cisco is saying that significant progress has been made, and our expert Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit are excited to see it, both personally and professionally. 

Why is Wi-Fi big business on cruise ships?

In just a year, the US cruise industry will see 26 million passengers aboard their ships. And providing them with better connectivity while they are on board will make a huge difference – All thanks to introducing 6 GHz Wi-Fi.

The cruise liners we see today are more like floating cities than cruise ships. The cruise industry generates over US$25 billion in annual revenue and provides a huge 290,000 jobs. 

With thousands of passengers and crew on board each ship, there are a lot of connectivity needs to meet. People expect excellent connectivity wherever they go, and out at sea is no exception. 

Up until now, 6 GHz Wi-Fi has not been available for ships (you can find out why here). With the FCC proposal to allow low power indoor 6 GHz Wi-Fi, this is all set to change. Users will find a significant boost in quality and speed. 

Cisco is assisting the FCC by helping to verify that this access to the 6 GHz band will not cause interference to current users, both at sea and in port. 

Cisco’s Senior Director of Connectivity & Technology Policy Bill Davenport says:

“The FCC is recognising what passengers and crew have long experienced: Onboard connectivity often falls short of modern expectations. This welcome step begins the process of updating legacy rules that constrain network performance and opens the door to faster, more reliable internet at sea.” 

Will 6 GHz Wi-Fi on cruise ships cause interference to other users?

Expert Engineer at Cisco, Matt Swartz,  believes it is highly unlikely that indoor 6 GHz cruise Wi-Fi will interfere with incumbent satellite services or microwave links. 

Why won’t 6 GHz Wi-Fi on cruise ships cause interference?

Cisco Engineer Matt Swartz says: 

“Cruise liners can have as many APs as stadiums, sometimes more. Even an installed base of 4,000 APs is not uncommon for a single ship. Fortunately, most ship deployments have now moved APs into individual cabins, which means that Wi-Fi signals are well contained within the ship’s heavy steel and reinforced glass structure. We’re now working with the cruise industry to test and verify that there’s no risk of interference with incumbent services when using 6 GHz Wi-Fi at LPI levels within the ship.”

Why is there a drive for better Wi-Fi on cruise ships?

One of the significant drivers for improved Wi-Fi on cruise ships and other vessels has been the introduction of more robust and much faster satellite backhaul services at sea. 

Yes, we’ve experienced okay in-cabin Wi-Fi using the existing 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz operations, but we expect 6 GHz to make a big difference for connectivity, speed and quality within the ship’s high traffic areas including the ship’s entertainment venues. 

Much like a stadium or other large public venue, a busy cruise ship is a high density environment with thousands of different user devices all competing for the same spectrum within a small area. 

When the FCC gives permission for Cisco to go ahead, they will be using their high-density 6 GHz expertise to boost onboard connectivity for both passengers and crew, improving quality and speed significantly. 

Cruise ship Wi-Fi not just for leisure

We’ve focused here on the improvement that passengers and crew will see in terms of internet access and communications.

But better onboard cruise ship Wi-Fi can also be used for:

  • Ship operations
  • Messaging
  • Safety procedures

We would expect a positive decision from the FCC within the year. Better Wi-Fi when out at sea? We can’t wait. 

You can find the full FCC document here. 

People also ask…

You may be wondering one of these frequently asked questions yourself. 

Why was the 6 GHz Band previously not allowed on ships? 

6 GHz was originally prohibited on ships in order to protect EESS remote sensing measurements across the oceans. 

EESS stands for Electrical Energy Storage System. It’s a technology that captures and stores electrical energy for later use, like a rechargeable battery. These systems are important for ensuring reliable power supply. 

You can read more about this here.

Why is 6 GHz connectivity needed on cruise ships out at sea?

Whether you are a seasoned cruise ship guest or have never cruised out on the open ocean, you might question the necessity of needing connectivity when you’re not in port. 

Any business in the hospitality industry strives for the best possible guest experience. Wi-Fi is a huge part of that, whether you’re on land or out at sea. 

Some examples of needing a reliable Wi-Fi connection on board a cruise ship are:

  • To stream movies from ship data centers 
  • Experiencing AR/VR for gaming
  • Relying on a connection for dining and retail purposes 

Allowing 6 GHz Wi-Fi whilst out at sea not only enhances the cruise experience for guests but also provides reliable connectivity to support critical ship operations.

Reliable 6 GHz connectivity for Ship operations could include:

  • Real-time access to navigational data and weather forecasts via Wi-Fi 
  • Sensors to monitor engines, ship systems, facilities, and security applications 
  • Communication between cruise ships, port authorities, crew members, and passengers

Why is Cisco so interested in cruise ship connectivity? 

You might be wondering why Cisco is bothering to petition this? Connectivity in the cruise industry actually has the potential to be big business. 

The network on a cruise ship typically consists of 4000 Access Points, supporting more than 10,000 Wi-Fi devices as well as providing connectivity for ship operations.

Cruise ships are quite literally packed with guests. Cisco sees the importance of delivering the right high density connectivity onboard sea vessels. In the US alone, the cruise industry is worth $3.7 billion. 

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6 GHz Cisco Cruise Ship Connectivity FCC US Wi-Fi
6 GHz Wi-Fi on Cruise Ships? Cisco Petitions FCC to Allow It

A new presentation from worldwide technology leader Cisco is appealing to the Federal Communications Commission to allow 6 GHz low-power indoor Wi-Fi operations aboard cruise ships. You can read their petition in full here. 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. It plays a crucial role in managing the nation’s communications infrastructure and ensuring fair competition, public safety, and media responsibility. 

Cisco and the FCC met last week where Cisco delivered their presentation appealing for 6 GHz to be allowed on cruise ships. 

In their report, Cisco say that 19 million passengers per year are transported by the cruise industry in the US, and growing at a rate of 4.5% every year.

Why is the 6 GHz Band Not Allowed on Ships? 

6 GHz was originally prohibited on ships in order to protect EESS remote sensing measurements across the oceans. 

EESS stands for Electrical Energy Storage System. It’s a technology that captures and stores electrical energy for later use, like a rechargeable battery. These systems are important for ensuring reliable power supply. 

However, EESS has now moved away from the 6 GHz band, making the restriction redundant. 

Back in 2023, the World Radiocommunication Conference decided to migrate EESS ocean sensing operations out of the 6 GHz band, making the original 6 GHz prohibition obsolete.

EESS operations are to transition to 4200-4400 MHz and 8400-8500 MHz frequency bands. This allocation of a new frequency has meant that there is already support for lifting the prohibition on unlicensed operations. There is a clear legal framework that enables the targeted Wi-Fi exemption for cruise ships. 

There are existing statutory definitions that the FCC can rely on that distinguish cruise ships from other types of boats and vessels. For example:

  • Cruise ships must be over 100 gross tons in weight, 200 feet in length, carrying more than 12 passengers. 
  • Vessels must travel defined routes lasting over 24 hours on high seas, embarking passengers in U.S. territories. 
  • Charter vessels and tour vessels must weigh less than 100 tons gross, making them statutorily distinct.
  • Cruise ships include multiple decks, restaurants, bars, spas, casinos, resembling hotels more than boats.

Why is 6 GHz Connectivity Needed on Cruise Ships Out at Sea?

Whether you are a seasoned cruise ship guest or have never cruised out on the open ocean, you might question the necessity of needing connectivity when you’re not in port. 

Allowing 6 GHz Wi-Fi whilst out at sea not only enhances the cruise experience for guests but also provides reliable connectivity to support critical ship operations.

6 GHz Connectivity for Guest Services on Cruise Ships

They might be on holiday but passengers are likely to still want to stay connected. Let’s face it, we tend to feel a bit lost when we don’t have a reliable connection at our fingertips. Cruise ship passengers will still want the opportunity to:

  • Stream movies from ship data centers 
  • Experience AR/VR for gaming
  • Rely on a connection for dining and retail purposes  
  • Access advisories
  • Communicate via the ship’s app
  •  Make Wi-Fi calls 

Any business in the hospitality industry strives for the best possible guest experience. Wi-Fi is a huge part of that, whether you’re on land or out at sea. 

A weak, poor or non-existent Wi-Fi performance at sea will affect promenade, pool, coffee shops, and other on-board guest services.

Reliable 6 GHz Connectivity for Ship Operations

Cruise ship guests might be on holiday but the crew members are not. Those that work on cruise ships will rely on a strong, reliable connection for a range of things. 6 GHz will provide Wi-Fi connectivity to facilitate:

  • Real-time access to navigational data and weather forecasts via Wi-Fi 
  • Sensors to monitor engines, ship systems, facilities, and security applications 
  • Communication between cruise ships, port authorities, crew members, and passengers 

Over 4,000 access points are deployed throughout cruise ship hallways, ceilings and cabins to help support all of the above for both guest services and ship operations. 

Allowing the 6 GHz band on cruise ships will enable wider channels for optimizing operations and the avoidance of excessive collisions.

Why is Cisco Interested in Cruise Ship Connectivity? 

Perhaps you’re wondering why Cisco is bothering to petition this? 

Well connectivity in the cruise industry actually has the potential to be big business. The network on a cruise ship typically:

  • Has 4000 Access Points
  • Supports more than 10,000 Wi-Fi devices
  • Provides connectivity for ship operations

Cruise ships are quite literally packed with guests, and whilst they might well be trying to escape what’s back home, no one can resist sharing that sunset selfie from their cabin window with the open ocean at their back. 

Cisco has a point and we’d agree that it is important to deliver the right high density connectivity onboard sea vessels. 

In the US alone, the cruise industry is worth $3.7 billion. 

6 GHz Wi-Fi on Cruise Ships

So if you’re a regular cruise ship passenger or you’re considering becoming a cruise ship guest in the future, you might just find yourself well connected via 6 GHz whilst on your travels thanks to Cisco. 

Wi-Fi whilst out on the open sea? Yes please. 

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