4G network goes live on world's largest offshore wind farm - 55 miles out in the North Sea

A 4G network has been successfully deployed across the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

Connectivity of Orsted’s Hornsea Two will power critical data and information systems on the site, operated and maintained from Grimsby’s Royal Dock, while allowing hundreds of employees to stay in touch with friends and family while at sea.

Vilicom was appointed to work on the 472 sq km site, 44 miles off the East Yorkshire coast in July 2020. Together with representatives from Vodafone, teams have liaised closely for two years to build the communication infrastructure in tandem with the installation of the 165 turbines. The remote location and curvature of the earth were challenges to tackle.

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Patrick Harnett, vice president of UK programme at Orsted said: “It is so important to have a 4G network that allows us to improve the efficiency of construction and operations of the world’s largest offshore wind farm. It’s also very important for our colleagues working out at sea to be able to connect back home to their friends and families.”

The wind farm became fully operational in August, and has the capacity to provide green electricity for 1.4 millio