The consortium led by GMV and Schiebel relies on Spanish company Satlink to provide the satellite broadband hardware and telecommunications
This capability will enable real-time analysis of resource needs in critical situations, such as shipwrecks, migrant boat sightings, medical assistance, oil spills, etc.
One of the three planes in the fleet of the Maritime Safety and Rescue Society (Sasemar), commonly known as Maritime Rescue, will now be able to transmit real-time data and video images recorded from the aircraft during any emergency to the public entity’s coordination centers in Madrid, the Canary Islands, and the Strait of Gibraltar. This innovative capability for the CN-235 aircraft is made possible by integrating GMV’s command and control systems with the satellite broadband telecommunications equipment provided by the Spanish tech company Satlink, utilizing the Hispasat network.
This project is part of the Comprehensive Maritime Rescue Innovation Program, known as iSAR, which is funded with 21 million euros. It significantly enhances the versatility and effectiveness of Sasemar’s operations, strengthening its position as an international leader in rescue and salvage services, pollution control, and maritime safety.
As part of the project, Satlink has been selected by GMV and Schiebel to develop and implement satellite telecommunications solutions that improve the flow and exchange of information. This will enable faster assessment of resource needs in critical situations such as shipwrecks, migrant boat sightings, medical assistance, oil spills, and more. Sasemar operates over a maritime area of one and a half million square kilometers, three times the size of the national territory.
Additionally, Satlink has installed an alternative solution in one of Sasemar’s helicopters, enabling real-time communication for operations within iSAR, though this aircraft does not require as high a transmission capacity given the operational tasks of helicopters.
With this new project, Satlink becomes the comprehensive telecommunications service provider for all of Maritime Rescue’s maritime and aerial units. It’s worth noting that Satlink was also selected in 2021 to provide satellite communication services to 14 of Sasemar’s vessels (four multipurpose rescue and anti-pollution ships and ten tugboats), as it is the only provider on the market with the technical capability and flexibility to guarantee 24/7 critical telecommunications services with maximum operational efficiency.
To manage Sasemar’s service, Satlink will employ a specialized operations team dedicated to continuous maintenance and monitoring, proactively implementing corrective actions whenever an issue is detected.
With this contract, Satlink continues to strengthen its position as a technological leader in satellite connectivity services for government units and public administrations, where reliable and robust connectivity technology is essential for critical communications.
