Inmarsat, netTALK to Deploy Connectivity Service to Canadian Coast Guard Lighthouses

The Canadian Coast Guard Lighthouse at St. John harbor. (Photo by Canada.ca)

U.K. satellite operator Inmarsat has signed a partnership agreement with netTALK Maritime to provide a communication system for Canadian Coast Guard lighthouses based on Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) high-throughput data service.

This will be netTALK Maritime’s first contract in the government and military market. The company specializes in supplying similar communications solutions to cruise lines, enabling passengers to communicate directly with one another and cruise ship staff to send alerts.

As part of its contract with Inmarsat, netTALK Maritime will combine its communication system with the operator’s GX satellite service. Inmarsat said it has been testing netTALK’s communication system in remote and harsh environments since March 2020. The operator said the combined Inmarsat/netTALK service would allow lighthouse keepers to access their Cisco AnyConnect VPN connection to the Canadian Coast Guard network to upload webcam images, weather data, and make voice-over-IP phone calls.

“This arrangement will help the Canadian Coast Guard achieve reliable, secure, high-speed connectivity, supporting the safety of mariners in Canadian waters and protecting Canada’s marine environment,” said Justin Hobbs, Inmarsat’s vice president of Global Government Sales. “Following the recent opening of Inmarsat’s state-of-the-art facility in Ottawa, this project further demonstrates the close and developing partnership for Inmarsat across the Canadian Government.”