Offshore Oil and Gas Communications Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

During the time frame of the forecast, the offshore oil and gas communications market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 7.6%.During the forecast period, the market is expected to grow because the oil and gas industry is investing more in new technologies and digital technologies.

Key Highlights

• From the oil rig to the offshore platforms, it's important to have good oil and gas communication equipment for safety and efficiency. A good communication system does more than just send data between businesses that are offshore and those that are onshore.
• Offshore rigs are comparatively hard to establish, operate, and maintain. They must deal with environmental factors, including strong ocean currents and highly remote environments. Most of them are deep-water rigs that operate at great depths. In such remote locations, communications play a major role in monitoring several components and staying in contact with onshore establishments for reporting and assistance in emergencies.
• Several different communication technologies can now work alone or as a system to solve communication problems offshore. Satellite communications, which require a VSAT at the offshore site and are used by ships in remote places or that are moving, are the most common way to talk to people while offshore. Cellular networks are now being used in offshore oil fields because more money is being put into infrastructure there.
• Still, the offshore oil and gas field communications industry will be slowed down by worries about not enough data protection, risks in data transfer, asset security, and the difficulty of cyberattacks. Oil price volatility would even further slow the oil field communications sector's growth. The high expenses of maintaining this procedure will further limit the expansion of the oil field communications business.
• COVID-19 had an impact on the oil and gas industry as well. Everyone has had to adjust, from people being placed on leave to businesses having to radically rethink their long-term plans. Businesses must rethink their long-term strategies. When it comes to offshore oil rigs, the effect is more evident. The COVID-19 pandemic hindered offshore oil rig development and maintenance. Post-epidemic, the industry is expanding as it adopts new technology and new working methods, with companies adjusting to these new circumstances.

Offshore Oil and Gas Communications Market Trends

Telecom-based Technological Advancements to Drive the Market Growth

• A few years ago, communications between offshore facilities and onshore locations were limited to a two-way radio channel and daily reports. Oilfield workers stationed offshore were virtually cut off from the rest of the world. However, with the technological advancements in communication technologies, offshore industry work has been transformed.
• With the help of microwave communications technology, data is sent over wavelengths that are less than one meter long.These microwave solutions are chosen for locations that are close to each other. Fiber-optic telecommunications are chosen for locations in high-traffic areas, such as the North Sea or the US Gulf of Mexico.
• Technological advancements have allowed improved communication systems that have transformed total subsea developments and the way the remote, unmanned offshore industry works. The increasing vulnerability to cyber security threats in the oil and gas sector is a significant growth driver for the oil field communications market. The growing need for cloud-based services and a greater emphasis on adopting effective communication technology will exacerbate the demand for oil field communications. Increasing investments in network infrastructure and the expansion and growth of the oil and gas sector will generate more profitable growth prospects for the oil field communications market.
• With more oil and gas projects being built around the world, the offshore oil and gas communications market is expected to grow. Baker Hughes says that as of last year, Asia Pacific had the most offshore oil and gas rigs.

North America is Expected to Hold the Largest Market Share

• One of the biggest markets for offshore oil and gas communications is North America.The demand for communication equipment in this area is likely to be driven by the discovery of new shale resources in the United States and the growth of oil and gas projects in Canada.
• This region is said to be the pioneer in this market because it is also the largest oil and gas producer. According to Baker Hughes, North America hosts the most oil and gas rigs globally and has 14 offshore oil and gas rigs. Moreover, the market is expected to grow, with companies seeking advanced digital solutions for offshore field operations.
• Globally increasing crude oil prices that are expected to reach pre-crisis levels over the forecast period are expected to increase upstream oil and gas activity, leading to an increase in demand for offshore communications in the oil and gas industry.
• During the time frame of the projection, the market would grow because more advanced technologies would be used, there would be more demand for these technologies in large oilfields and offshore locations, and oil and gas field excavation activities in the region would grow quickly.

Offshore Oil and Gas Communications Industry Overview

There are a few big players in the offshore oil and gas communications market, such as ABB Ltd., Alcatel Lucent SA, Baker Hughes Incorporated, CommScope Inc., and AT&T Inc.Players in the market are using partnerships, mergers, investments, and acquisitions to improve their products and gain a competitive edge that will last.

In July 2022, Baker Hughes announced that it was buying AccessESP, which was one of the leading providers of advanced technology for artificial lift solutions. This was done to modernize oil and gas operations by lowering operating costs and downtime, which would make them much more efficient.AccessESP's "GoRigless ESP System" has its own solutions that make it possible to set up and take down an electrical submersible pump (ESP) with standard, light-duty intervention equipment (like a wireline, coiled tubing, or well tractor) instead of a rig or pulling well production tubing.These solutions greatly reduce the cost and downtime of ESP replacement workovers, which are becoming more important in offshore and isolated settings.

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, one of the top providers of communications, cloud, and networking solutions for specific industries, announced Purple on Demand in November 2022. Purple on Demand is a new commercial product that is sold on a subscription basis and focuses on offering secure business communications to end users in a private setting. Businesses that start on a digital transition seek simplicity, flexibility, security, and digital sovereignty. Purple on Demand provides business communication services, including software available through a subscription model and gear, such as phone sets, conferencing devices, and peripherals, to satisfy these demands.

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