Connecting with family and friends whilst on base will be even easier for Royal Australian Navy personnel at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia - thanks to a collaboration between Ventia's Telecommunications and Defence teams. 

The project involves the installation of a user pays personal use internet service for accommodation facilities at the base on Garden Island making Defence life more like community life for Defence personnel. 

The service is using mesh Wi-Fi technology to provide fast, affordable and convenient wireless internet to Defence members and visitors. Upon completion this will allow staff and visitors to use their time on base to utilise high speed internet for study, gaming or to connect with family and friends. 

^{The cross-sector collaboration project helps realise Defence's goal of providing base life that is consistent with community life.}

The initial concept and network design was developed inhouse by Ventia's Telecommunications Defence team to help realise Defence's goal of providing base life that is consistent with community life. HMAS Stirling was selected as the initial site for a proof-of-concept deployment, with installation getting underway in late 2021. The service was officially launched in September 2022.

HMAS Stirling's primary purpose is to provide operational and logistics support to the RAN ships, submarines and aircraft based in WA.

Collaborating across sectors to deliver results for the client

This project showcases a broad range of capabilities from the Ventia Telco sector including conceptual development, design, installation and testing and commissioning of bespoke ICT solutions. It is also being supported by Ventia's Operations Centre (VOC) in Melbourne. 

The project was also a great example of cross-sector collaboration with the Telco Defence & Private Networks team working alongside Defence Base Services. Management of the design and installation was led by Azam Abbas. 

^{The project demonstrates a broad range of capabilities from our Telco sector.}

Ventia's Thomas Hermans, Project Director for Defence ICT in the Telecommunications sector is proud of the result.

This is not only a great example of bringing different parts of Ventia together to deliver a solution for our clients, it is also a demonstration of the sort of offering we can provide that is really innovative. 

"We now have a proven and useable solution in the field for a fast, user pays, Wi-Fi internet service that has applications for clients right across Ventia," he said.