Telecom Lead Africa: African mobile major MTN Satellite
Communications (MTN) has expanded its Worldwide TV service to cruise
passengers and crew with the launch of latest version of the service.
The version 2 MTN Worldwide TV service will deliver
specific cruise content streaming to Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops,
tablets and smartphones of cruise passengers and crew.
“With MTN Worldwide TV, passengers and crew can now
access entertainment and news programming, and other content, from anywhere on
the ship using personal mobile devices – from lounging by the pool or in the
comfort of their room. Further, this new mobile service will keep crew morale
high and help increase productivity while at sea,” said Brent
Horwitz, senior vice president and general manager of MTN‘s cruise
and ferry services business.
Cruise line partners can now integrate additional video
and audio content such as shore excursions, ship and port information and
onboard vendor advertising for a comprehensive and personalized line-up,
anywhere.
MTN Worldwide TV is the first fully digital,
multi-channel television service for the maritime industry delivering
programming from eight major U.S. and international television networks
including BBC World News, CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC, Sky News, Sky Sports News,
Sport 24 and E! Entertainment Television.
Leveraging MTN’s global Next Generation Network, the
service utilizes three overlapping satellite beams that integrate seamlessly
with a cruise ship’s existing Television Receive-Only (TVRO) antenna and
onboard video distribution system to make installations quick and easy.
MTN Worldwide TV is currently reaching more than 60,000
cabins aboard 19 cruise lines around the world. To date, the service has
broadcast 770 sporting events and more than 2,000 hours of live programming.
Recently, MTN and Ericsson entered into a strategic partnership to launch m-wallet
services in Africa and the Middle East.
With this partnership, MTN will become the first
operator to deploy Ericsson Converged Wallet platform.
