Network upgrade for UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency

UK technology and network services company telent Technology Services has been awarded a 10-year contract with the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to design, build and operate a next-generation, mission-critical communications network.

The network will connect 155 remote radio sites situated along 17,000 kilometres of UK coastline, replacing the existing legacy infrastructure with a combination of fibre and microwave technology.

The radio sites relay communications, via three network data centres, between vessels at sea and 10 HM Coastguard Operation Centres.

telent will design and build the network before providing a fully managed service to MCA. This will include monitoring and managing end-to-end performance, planning and maintenance activities, and conducting technical changes and updates.

This work, which commenced in July 2020, is in addition to telent’s existing contract with MCA to maintain equipment at the remote radio sites, with the organisations’ partnership already spanning more than 10 years.

Once deployed, the next-generation network will enable MCA to undertake its own digital transformation and deliver new digital services and communication capabilities.

“We are proud to have been selected as MCA’s partner to deliver this essential work,” said Jo Gretton, CEO at telent.

“Our collaborative approach will ensure that delivery exceeds Her Majesty’s Coastguard’s requirements assisting it to deliver its lifesaving services.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Helen Hotson