Telespazio UK awarded ESA Contract for the Development of Advanced Alternative PNT Technologies for Maritime Use

07 September 2022

Telespazio UK has been awarded a new contract by ESA, the European Space Agency.  Telespazio UK is the prime contractor to ESA for the project and will be working with a single very strong and expert sub-contractor, Kongsberg Seatex (Norway).

As part of the ESA’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NavISP), Telespazio UK is excited to announce that it has been awarded the contract for the Development of Advanced VDES-R User Technologies for Alternative PNT in a project called VDES-R Advanced User Technologies for Alternative PNT (VAUTAP).

VDES stands for VHF data exchange system, a communications channel for maritime systems, and VDES-R is a PNT solution independent of GNSS that will be developed in this project for maritime use.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) have become the primary marine aid-to-navigation and source of Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) information.

Yet, all GNSS are vulnerable to natural interference, deliberate and accidental jamming and spoofing. Trials have demonstrated that degraded GNSS produce hazardously misleading information and erroneous vessel positions without alarms being raised. As ships’ systems become increasingly digital, with the introduction of a wide range of supporting services and the emergence of autonomous vessels, PNT accuracy, integrity, continuity, and availability become increasingly critical.

A System-of-Systems approach to PNT resilience is now widely accepted; such an approach requires that systems other than GNSS be utilised to provide resiliency.  One such system is the Very High Frequency Data Exchange System (VDES).  VDES is a new maritime radio communication system being developed by the international maritime community (with open standards), on a frequency band recently allocated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

At the same time there is an investigation on the potential use of these VDES communication signals transmitted from shore-based stations for positioning a concept commonly referred to as ‘ranging mode’, or R-Mode.

“This is a great opportunity for us to be part of this important ESA project, which will build on the work that has already been done within the Alternative-PNT arena, especially with new maritime concepts. We are pleased to be leading such a strong team and look forward to developing a proof of concept that will help protect against malicious threats to GNSS systems and ultimately will make an important difference to maritime users”.

Mark Hewer, CEO of Telespazio UK 

VDES R-Mode is still at a relatively low Technology Readiness Level and much of the standardisation required for such System-of-Systems components are not yet in place, giving developers the opportunity to propose and develop better waveforms, techniques, components, and concepts to provide truly resilient PNT.

The VAUTAP project will utilise the strong alliance and experience of our consortium to investigate, consolidate and develop new algorithms, waveforms, software, and hardware, to evolve VDES R-Mode closer to an operational and viable component of a resilient PNT System-of-Systems.

Other News & Stories

05.06.2023
Telespazio partners in QUID, the quantum communication network project for Italy

Telespazio, along with also Leonardo and Thales Alenia Space, has a leading role in the QUID project, which aims to build Metropolitan Quantum networks and in their interconnection with the Italian Quantum Backbone.

26.05.2023
The innovative Telespazio service to provide real-time data to EUMETSAT

Telespazio provides EUMETSAT with the EUMETCast Europe service, an innovative satellite communication system for the real-time transmission of updated weather data to the meteorological offices of different countries.

22.05.2023
Agreement between Telespazio and the Puglia DTA for the development of new innovative services

To enhance the national aerospace system with new abilities and skills, to encourage the development of infrastructures such as the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed and the Fucino Space Center, to sustain the development of innovations in the field of aerospace through the ESA BIC - Brindisi program.

18.05.2023
In Orbit Servicing: Telespazio partner of the ASI-assigned PNRR mission dedicated to sustainability in space

Telespazio is a partner in the In-Orbit Servicing (IOS) demonstration mission - led by Thales Alenia Space, and also involving Leonardo, Avio and D-ORBIT and awarded in recent days by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). 

05.06.2023
Telespazio partners in QUID, the quantum communication network project for Italy

Telespazio, along with also Leonardo and Thales Alenia Space, has a leading role in the QUID project, which aims to build Metropolitan Quantum networks and in their interconnection with the Italian Quantum Backbone.

26.05.2023
The innovative Telespazio service to provide real-time data to EUMETSAT

Telespazio provides EUMETSAT with the EUMETCast Europe service, an innovative satellite communication system for the real-time transmission of updated weather data to the meteorological offices of different countries.

22.05.2023
Agreement between Telespazio and the Puglia DTA for the development of new innovative services

To enhance the national aerospace system with new abilities and skills, to encourage the development of infrastructures such as the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed and the Fucino Space Center, to sustain the development of innovations in the field of aerospace through the ESA BIC - Brindisi program.

18.05.2023
In Orbit Servicing: Telespazio partner of the ASI-assigned PNRR mission dedicated to sustainability in space

Telespazio is a partner in the In-Orbit Servicing (IOS) demonstration mission - led by Thales Alenia Space, and also involving Leonardo, Avio and D-ORBIT and awarded in recent days by the Italian Space Agency (ASI).