CASE STUDY
Connectivity is about much more than Internet access; it’ s about providing seamless access to our digital services and onboard touchpoints from the moment guests step aboard, ensuring a connected and enjoyable experience throughout their journey. and Cisco Wireless 9100 Series access points. Together, these systems provide the coverage, resilience and performance required to support thousands of simultaneous connections while maintaining uninterrupted service as passengers move throughout each vessel.
Despite the success of the project, implementing OpenRoaming in a maritime environment presented significant technical challenges. WBA President and CEO Tiago Rodrigues said one of the most complex issues involved maintaining seamless handovers between access points as users moved through constantly changing onboard environments.
Another challenge involved ensuring that guest devices were provisioned before boarding. Because OpenRoaming performs best when devices already contain the necessary identity credentials, AIDA, Cisco and WBA coordinated communications across booking systems, digital channels and pre-cruise engagement programmes to encourage adoption before passengers arrived.
Rodrigues also highlighted the complexities of integrating cloud-based identity and authentication systems with shipboard infrastructure. Satellite backhaul limitations, security requirements, latency considerations and performance optimisation all required careful planning to ensure a consistent experience at sea.
Cisco’ s SVP of Engineering for Customer Experience, Bhaskar Jayakrishnan, said the project also required overcoming differences between mobile operating systems. Native OpenRoaming support varies significantly between device ecosystems, creating additional challenges for universal deployment.
To address these issues, Cisco developed a dual-path authentication approach. Native profiles were used where supported, while other devices relied on the Cisco Spaces software development kit embedded within AIDA’ s loyalty application. Extensive testing and collaboration ensured authentication remained seamless across multiple device types.
The implementation itself involved close cooperation between all three organisations. WBA provided deployment frameworks, onboarding assets, technical guidance and best-practice documentation. Cisco Services managed implementation activities alongside AIDA teams, while workshops, testing programmes and planning sessions ensured alignment across architecture, security and user experience requirements.
Looking ahead, the partnership is expected to evolve beyond connectivity alone. Jayakrishnan said future developments will include a hyperconverged hybrid infrastructure designed to improve fleet-wide management, operational agility and scalability. Security capabilities will also advance through deeper inspection integrated into switching infrastructure, supporting a distributed zero-trust architecture.
Future initiatives are expected to include IoT-enabled smart ship capabilities, artificial intelligence applications, environmental monitoring systems and enhanced operational workflows. Emerging wireless audio technologies are also being evaluated to improve accessibility and passenger services. Poppe said the partnership has already reduced technical incidents and support cases while improving guest experiences and will continue driving innovation throughout AIDA’ s digital journey. •
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