November 24th, 2024

Starlink brings improved connectivity to New Zealand's Scott Base in Antarctica

The 17 crew members overwintering at Scott Base are benefiting from enhanced connectivity, including video calls with family and handling personal matters from phones and laptops.

After Starlink's installation in March, Antarctica New Zealand's IT and engineering teams have been working to optimise the system for the harsh Antarctic environment (Photo: Antarctica New Zealand).
After Starlink's installation in March, Antarctica New Zealand's IT and engineering teams have been working to optimise the system for the harsh Antarctic environment (Photo: Antarctica New Zealand).

New Zealand's Scott Base in Antarctica has received a major connectivity upgrade with the installation of Starlink, allowing scientists at the remote research station on Ross Island to access modern digital software tools and experience better communication. The improvement is akin to working from home, despite being 3,800km away from New Zealand, according to Antarctica New Zealand on Friday.

Why it matters: Enhanced connectivity through Starlink will significantly improve scientists' access to modern digital software tools, collaboration capabilities, and communication at the remote research station on Ross Island, some 3,800km away from New Zealand.

New era of collaboration: According to Dr. Jordy Hendrikx, Antarctica New Zealand's chief scientific advisor, the Starlink trial opens up a new era of real-time collaboration for Scott Base, with greater interaction for interdisciplinary teams and analysts in New Zealand and around the world.

What's changed: Previously, slow connections limited data transmission and communication at Scott Base. Starlink's improved connectivity allows scientists to move data quickly and regularly, potentially increasing the frequency and access to remote data collection.

On-the-ground adjustments: After Starlink's installation in March, Antarctica New Zealand's IT and engineering teams have been working to optimise the system for the harsh Antarctic environment.

The big picture: The 17 crew members overwintering at Scott Base are benefiting from enhanced connectivity, including video calls with family and handling personal matters from phones and laptops. The improved connection brings a sense of normality to working in a remote location, improving morale and reducing isolation.

What's next: Research teams will be briefed on the system's performance ahead of their 2023/24 deployment, and its effectiveness will be reviewed at the end of each research season. Antarctica New Zealand is monitoring the service's reliability in the Ross Sea region, expecting improvements but not perfection.