Elcome International and Broadcast Solutions recently completed a live demonstration of a Proof of Concept (POC) of a marine coastal operations network.
The POC demonstration, which involved a ground station and several vessels, confirmed the system’s expanded capabilities, including live messaging and video conferencing between headquarters and mobile units at sea.
The marine network uses advanced software-defined tactical radios with multiplexing modulation technology, specialized antennas, and IP collaboration tools to communicate between interconnected cells. The multi-node network can maintain secure low-latency broadband connectivity with offshore vessels, wide operational roaming in offshore areas.
Network communication modes include voice-over-IP (VOIP), multi-streaming video, push-to-talk (PTT) radio, messaging, file transfer, and other IP-based applications. A video control system optimizes the power supply of the interface from the electronics of the vessels, such as radar, sonar, ECDIS, infrared sensors and surveillance cameras, for real-time surveillance in the shore command center. Playback mode can be used to analyze events after action.
“During the POC demonstration, the IP network achieved successive 30 Mbps bandwidth in a sector of 20 nautical miles,” said Nicholas Hans, a partner at Broadcast Solutions Middle East. “Apart from the point-to-point connection, the marine network allows communication between points and many points on a scale. Such flexibility paves the way for various uses for defense, oil and gas or port operations. “
“This POC trial provided a compelling demonstration of the potential benefits that a mobile IP network can bring to broadband services for vessels and offshore platforms,” said Jimmy Greval, CEO of Elcome International. “We look forward to working with Broadcast Solutions to move fully into this powerful technology.”