CDMA Coverage on US Navy Submarine

The nuclear-powered submarine, USS Oklahoma City is to be fitted with a CDMA pico cell to permit the use of cell phones during a television broadcast being shown on ABC's Good Morning America. The submarine and the US Navy support vessel USNS Dolores Chouest, which will be following the sub, will each be equipped with a 1900 MHz high-gain CDMA antenna and microwave communications equipment. The sub will have cellular telephones installed below deck and the ship will be outfitted with a CDMA Pico Cell and cellular telephones outfitted by Wireless Maritime Services, a joint venture between MTN and Cingular Wireless (odd that they chose not to use GSM then).

The submarine will transmit the live video broadcast to the Chouest using bi-directional microwave radios. The cellular technology will be used to support all of the live two-way communications between the studio in New York and the sub below the surface. All of the video and cellular traffic will be uplinked via MTN's video broadcast network using satellite communications technology.

ABC's Good Morning America will be broadcasting from aboard the submarine while the sub is under water, and under way.

Richard Hadsall, MTN's founder and Chief Technology Officer, has been called upon many times by government agencies and the world's largest broadcasting companies when they want to do something outside the box, such as developing and operating NBC's "Bloommobile," providing a live broadcast of the Titanic for the Discovery Channel, communications for military personnel during Desert Storm, and many live radio and television broadcasts from ships at sea including "Live with Regis and Kelly" on Norwegian Cruise Lines' Pride of America. "This is just another exciting and challenging event we so love to provide. Like all of our live special events, MTN will again provide a flawless live broadcast, complete with all of the necessary communications services required to make the event run as well as if it were on land," stated Hadsall."

Posted to the site on 24th November 2005