Atlas has been working throughout 2015 and into 2016 to deliver our wireless based Internet Services across Northern Ireland, from over two hundred of Belfast’s businesses to delivering free public Wi-Fi into Derry City and Strabane District council public buildings.

Two years ago provision of public access wireless was a small part of our business, since then it’s grown rapidly. What’s not to like about wireless? For the user it’s convenient and there are more wireless devices out there than wired. For a business, it looks convenient for both internal and guest use, but it is challenging to deploy with a lot of factors to consider. If you have ever used a public Wi-Fi service that seems to freeze or disconnect frequently you will know it’s not so straightforward to get it right.

In late 2015 Atlas Communications secured a new contract to provide public Wi-Fi at three of Northern Ireland’s key fishing ports funded by the European Fisheries Fund. This project was a perfect case study in how many variables could be involved in getting it right.

The contract, with Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority, has seen the ports of Kilkeel, Portavogie and Ardglass become wireless hubs for tourists, visitors and locals alike.

Delivering a unique solution to the busiest working fishing harbours in Northern Ireland, under a tight time restraint proved to be a challenge. The fully wireless solution was installed in a difficult environment, with engineers battling saltwater and occasional high winds to get the solution up and running.

Getting good wireless coverage was key but unlike an office, the area wasn’t flat. Normal surveys of the wireless spectrum reveal sources of interference that have to be worked around, for this project; there were ships radars to contend with.

Then there was the accessibility question. The fishermen and Harbour Authority set the challenge of ensuring that the solution was accessible in multiple languages including Romanian, Polish, Lithuanian and Tagalog, to meet the needs of expats working in the local fishing industry.

The installation of a public access Wi-Fi service based around the three fishing harbours will be of use to the fishermen, other business users as well as promoting the harbour and local communities. It will be available to tourists and visitors ensuring connectivity during their visit so they can make the most of the attractions available.

Atlas aims to provide ubiquitous wireless coverage that can be easily accessed by the public through a login landing page which displays tourist information provided by the local council.