Hydromea and Equinor Achieve World’s First Subsea-to-Satellite Link, Unlocking Subsea Wireless Broadband

RENENS, Switzerland--( BUSINESS WIRE)--Hydromea have announced a groundbreaking achievement in subsea technology, made together with Equinor: the world’s first demonstration of real-time, high-bandwidth wireless data transmission from the ocean floor directly to the cloud. This milestone marks a pivotal advancement in subsea asset monitoring and the digitalization of the offshore energy sector.

This breakthrough is a critical step to enable sustainable autonomous subsea operations.

A Leap Forward in Subsea Data Connectivity

In a pioneering collaboration, Hydromea’s SWiG-ready LUMA™ Free-Space Optical (FSO) devices successfully transmitted data from the seabed to Equinor’s cloud infrastructure using Equinor’s proprietary DEEPNET network. This is the first known instance where high volume of data collected at the bottom of the ocean can be streamed wirelessly in real time through a LUMA™ WLAN hotspot, enabling immediate access for asset integrity engineers and Underwater Intervention Drone (UID) pilots. The result is a seamless, end-to-end data flow—subsea sensors and vehicles can now deliver critical insights to operators in real time.

Transforming Subsea Asset Integrity and Operations

Hydromea’s LUMA™ platform leverages high-speed, low-latency optical communication technology capable of transmitting data at up to 10 Mbps, even at depths of up to 6,000 meters. This innovation significantly reduces the costs, risks, and environmental footprint associated with traditional subsea monitoring, which often relies on vessel use and cabled solutions. By enabling instant data transmission to the cloud, operators can make smarter, faster decisions and enhance the safety and efficiency of their offshore operations.

Igor Martin, CEO of Hydromea, emphasized the significance of this achievement:

“This is an important milestone for Hydromea, working with Equinor to show how real-time connectivity for untethered vehicles and data harvesting from sensors will flow wirelessly in real time into an asset operator’s cloud for immediate insights into operational matters.”

Supporting the Future of Subsea Autonomy

This breakthrough is a critical step to enable autonomous subsea operations.

Equinor has been at the forefront of developing standardized docking and data infrastructure for subsea drones and intervention vehicles, aiming to create an open, interoperable ecosystem for the industry. The integration of Hydromea’s high-speed wireless communication technology further accelerates this vision, supporting both oil & gas and renewables sectors.

For more information about Hydromea’s LUMA™ technology and how wireless broadband works, visit https://www.hydromea.com/luma-underwater-communication/subsea-to-cloud-wireless