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The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has invested £175m in one of the UK’s largest private broadband networks to connect its remote sites around the UK as it seeks to improve its resilience to respond to thousands of distress calls around the UK coastline.
Working with tech partner Telent, the MCA now has a network stretching between 163 remote radio sites over a distance of 11,000 miles meaning that coverage now spans from the highlands of Scotland the tip of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
“The national radio network is integral in supporting our mission of preventing the loss of life on the coast and at sea, enhancing our ability to respond to emergencies across the UK.”
Matthew Leat, Assistant Chief Coastguard, HM Coastguard.
It’s taken four years to complete and introduces a combination of full-fire and microwave technology, replacing the existing copper network. It’s part of a ten year deal with Telent – which is now providing a managed service to look after the network – and forms a big chunk of the Agency’s Radio Network Infrastructure Replacement Programme.
“The new network provides a firm foundation for the MCA’s potential future and new technology services and projects that only the high performance of a full-fibre network can support.”
Joe Gretton, CEO, Telent.
Telent also maintains radio equipment at the remote radio sites and delivers additional support services for the MCA.
The industry will once again be gathering at the NEC, Birmingham for The Emergency Services Show, co located with The Emergency Tech Show on 18-19 September, check out the full exhibitor list here. You can find Telent in Hall 4, on stand C60.