The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded a contract valued at nearly £3.7 million to Sure South Atlantic, a telecommunications provider based in Stanley, to deliver welfare Wi-Fi for MOD personnel stationed in the Falkland Islands.
The awarded service, named “Falkland Islands Welfare Wi-Fi,” aims to provide secure and accessible internet connectivity to MOD staff for personal use across the Mount Pleasant Complex and other satellite sites on the islands.
The contract, published on 28 October 2024, was allocated under the CPV code 72411000, specifically for internet service provision.
Sure South Atlantic’s services are expected to support MOD personnel by improving online accessibility, allowing them to maintain contact with family and friends while stationed remotely.
While the initial contract covers a substantial service period, it includes two optional one-year extensions, which are subject to potential price adjustments at the time of renewal. The provision is seen as part of a broader welfare initiative aimed at enhancing quality of life for deployed personnel, particularly in isolated locations.
Historical point – we had welfare wifi when I was down there Aug 1999 to Feb 2000. It was a cybercafe run by SSAFA. No idea who ‘plumbed’ it in.
Do you think it’s cost nearly £4 million. I’m starting to see why we spends £54 billion a year and have an black hole in the equipment budget 😀
Just buy a start link terminal for a few hundred quid.
I think £4M is pretty good for multiple years or decades of internet infrastructure installing and maintainance.
Totally agree. You can get around 200 devices on a normal starlink for around £100 per month. This is a disgusting waste of tax.
And I’m sure that Musk won’t increase the price for the MOD.
That cybercafe was pretty basic, in those days!
I hope that this was a competitive tender and that the price was fair and reasonable.
I think the term “secure” probably means it has to be made far more secure than civi wifi to protect personnel from being hacked or giving away sensitive info.
errrr. What?
Who cares?
Those deploying do.
It’s a morale boosting fing. Which is very important.
It’s relevant to the kind of people who are either, capable of critical thought, or have personal interest in areas the ukdj might write about.
These are small things but have to done. Today’s military generation have higher expectations than mine. In my day all the battle and training camps were in a dire state of repair, so running water was a bonus. Hot water well that was you happy. The MOD have to realise that they have to compete with civilian employers in pay and conditions. I think they are getting there but still miles behind the curve. Hard to make comparisons. Try this one. A SNCO or Corporal with with ten years experience. Additional qualifications to call in and direct air support (FAC)
Also qualified similarly as a FOO for mortar, arty, and NGS. Does he get a company car, mobile, laptop. What would he get in the private sector for similar responsibilities.
I think someone in the private sector calling in air support, mortar and artillery would probably get arrested.
I believe that’s called terrorism. Or serious amounts of PTSD 😉
As regards comparing uniformed service with very rough civilian equivalents.
As a rule. Civilian companies care little for non technical experience.
After that. It’s most likely down to supply and demand.
Unless you had your hazardous goods quals, I wouldn’t have thought a civvie goods vehicle driving job was much to go into instead of staying in. However, with the chronic shortage of HGV drivers, I believe wages have increased a lot, working practices are better and some companies are offering golden hello’s plus retention bonuses.
At a guess. I would think it takes a veteran to recognise the value of another veteran, who served in a ‘teeth’ branch.
You need to plan ahead. In that respect. Nothing much has changed.
Given the British government owns OneWeb, I’m surprised they haven’t bothered to use it
When i served down there on my first tour july-november 1991 all we had were bluies, the free blue fold out emvelopes or a phone call on a payphone, five minutes for about £20.
Had the SSAFA cyber cafe closed down then?
High costs down to satellite component?
Assuming there’s a Signals troop based there.
You’d wonder why they couldn’t piggy back this on
‘official’ means.
Does it mean all round internet or does the medieval 19GB monthly cap still apply?
Has the non-quotaed period extended to be accessible at any reasonable times?
Any provision to have higher speed uncapped WiFi hotspots, at least?