MTN to Deploy Network Equipment and Software on Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

PCTEL, Inc. confirmed that it is providing its wireless access hardware and software products to the cruise line industry through its commercial agreement with Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN). MTN Separately announced its successful deployment of the PCTEL Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) products. MTN, a provider of maritime communications deployed PCTEL's WLAN Network Gateway, Roaming Client and Installation Wizard software products on the Norwegian Sun, a vessel in the Norwegian Cruise Line. MTN has plans to deploy PCTEL's wireless access solutions on other cruise ships in the near future. Passengers may now bring their personal laptops onboard the Norwegian Sun and use a wireless connection to the Internet. Digital Seas International (DSI), a subsidiary of MTN and a Verestar company, currently provides Internet services through the Internet Cafe onboard the vessel, where the passengers and crew can surf the Web, check e-mail and send video mail. The PCTEL WLAN Network Infrastructure provides a solution that consists of Network Gateways at the edge of the network and Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) Brokers that aggregate these Gateways. The complete WLAN solution provides authentication facilities, user provisioning, accounting, usage reporting, network management, and full RADIUS compatibility. PCTEL's Install Wizard and Roaming Client software provide passengers with simple automatic installation and configuration of a WLAN card on their personal laptop and direct connection to the ship's 802.11 wireless network. These solutions enable a carrier such as MTN to provide quick and easy wireless Internet access to guests on passenger cruise ships.