Ten years of BFBS MiPlayer: From HMS Iron Duke trial to planned submarine rollout

BFBS is marking 10 years since MiPlayer was first trialled on HMS Iron Duke, and the next step is taking the platform onto Royal Navy submarines.

The service launched in January 2016 as an onboard system delivering 10 TV channels and six radio stations to the frigate. 

MiPlayer has since expanded across the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleets, as well as operational bases and remote islands.

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Nick Beer, director of BFBS Development and Strategy, said MiPlayer began as "a bold idea" to bring entertainment to personnel in "remote and demanding environments on Earth".

Built for places with little or no internet

MiPlayer is designed to work on personal devices, with catch-up available when there is little or no internet access.

Mr Beer said MiPlayer has grown into "far more than a platform", adding: "It is a lifeline, a morale booster, and a constant reminder that no matter where our people serve, they are never truly cut off from home."

The system gathered pace in 2017 when it was officially named and unveiled at DSEI, before being demonstrated to senior military leaders at PJHQ later that year.

This led to operational deployments in South Sudan, Iraq and Somalia.

From ships to the Falklands

By 2018, MiPlayer had expanded across the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and been used on operations including Afghanistan, Iraq and in Eastern Europe.

Newspapers and magazines were added, and MiPlayer was rolled into accommodation at UK Naval Support Facility Bahrain, delivering content to personal devices and televisions via the newly developed MiPlayer set-top box.

In 2020, the technology became a public service for the Falkland Islands Government, providing island-wide access to live and catch-up TV and radio over the local network without consuming internet capacity.

Next step: submarines

MiPlayer is now being prepared for use aboard Royal Navy submarines, with approval underway for current boats and the system already designed into future platforms.

The rollout is planned in 2026 and beyond, and sits alongside inclusion on the future Type 26 and Type 31 frigates.

Mr Beer said MiPlayer now supports forces "on land, at sea, in the air, and now beneath the waves".

Satellite partnerships and forces content

In 2023, BFBS announced a development partnership between MiPlayer Edge and Eutelsat OneWeb to deliver services through low-orbit satellite networks to remote locations. 

MiPlayer Edge is also compatible with other satellite services, including Starlink and Amazon Kuiper.

Last year, MiPlayer added new sections, including Forces Shorts and Inside Military Sport from BFBS Forces News, and Audio Podcasts and Specials from BFBS Radio.