TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s passenger ship “Penghu Ferry” can now enjoy internet access at sea thanks to new coastal broadband stations and improved onboard electronics.
A delegation led by Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) Minister Audrey Tang (唐鳳) and other officials went to Penghu on Monday (April 15) to inspect the results of their internet improvement plan, per CNA. Tang said the Penghu Ferry lacked access to fast internet on its five-hour voyage from Kaohsiung to Penghu, per Liberty Times.
The Penghu Ferry had relied on satellites for internet access, which resulted in poor connectivity and slow speeds of about 1 Mbps.
To remedy this, Tang set up a telecom subsidization plan which called for three base stations to be installed in Penghu County, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. The ship also received antenna and router upgrades.
MODA granted subsidies for the upgrades and base stations, while the telecom industries paid the remainder. MODA said that the mobile download speed of the ship can reach up to 50 Mbps, allowing passengers and crew members to make calls and surf the Internet.
Maritime and Port Bureau Director-General Yeh Hsieh-Lung (葉協隆) said the Penghu Ferry made its maiden voyage in September. Future communications improvements for other ships will be explored, he added.