Full-fibre radio network to help prevent loss of life on UK’s coastline

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has launched a £175 million search and rescue radio network to prevent loss of life on the coast and at sea.

The communications network, which connects 163 remote radio sites in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England will support HM Coastguard’s emergency response efforts.

Matthew Leat, assistant chief coastguard at HM Coastguard, said: “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”.

The first installations of the network began in December 2020 and were completed and made operational across all sites in August 2024. 

It includes 1,220km of new infrastructure comprising fibre-to-the-premises’ (FTTP) fibre-optic broadband and microwave technology, which is intended to deliver improvements, such as greater bandwidth and security, along with enhanced performance and improved reliability. 

Technology company Telent was contracted to design, build and operate the upgraded network under the terms of a 10-year agreement signed with the MCA in August 2020. 

Telent will offer a fully managed service as per the contract, including monitoring and managing end-to-end performance, providing maintenance services and implementing technical updates.

Jo Gretton, chief executive at Telent, said: “The reliable digital connection and the improved resilience provided by the new network will aid HM Coastguard’s life-saving search and rescue operations for years to come with Telent on hand to provide its critical expertise.

“Having first begun working together in 2010, maintaining radio equipment at the remote radio sites and delivering additional support services, Telent and MCA’s relationship has moved from strength to strength”.

Lee-on-the-Solent, Crystal Palace, Humber, Bridlington and Brighton Marina were among the first sites to be connected to the system.