Enhancing navy and maritime operations with Agnet TETRA
Reliable communication at sea
Reliable communication is crucial in challenging maritime environments. The vastness of the ocean and the lack of stable connectivity can not only slow down maritime operations and lead to errors in transportation but also pose significant safety risks for sea rescue and security teams working in naval environments. A trusted communication solution is essential to ensure seamless and secure connections in demanding coastal conditions.
In this article, we explore what connectivity challenges maritime teams face in remote coastal areas and how Agnet enhances navy and maritime operations, ensuring connectivity in even the most critical scenarios for all departments operating in or near the ocean.
Connectivity challenges in maritime environments
Reliable communication on maritime vessels is essential—not only during emergencies but also in day-to-day operations. Inside the vessel, smooth coordination between the bridge, engine room, deck crew, and other departments is the key to ensuring safe navigation and compliance with operational protocols. However, internal communication systems often face signal interference and have limited equipment space, creating a demand for solutions that are both compact and efficient.
Beyond internal coordination, maritime teams involved in transportation, coastal surveillance, customs enforcement and environmental monitoring face a range of challenges at sea. Operating in remote coastal areas means dealing with unstable network availability, which can slow down or block real-time information exchange with control centers and other vessels. This affects routine tasks like reporting cargo movements, verifying vessel identity, conducting inspections or coordinating routes.
International cooperation between customs, coast guards, and port authorities requires seamless communication, but this is often hampered by incompatible systems, language barriers, and lack of shared situational awareness. When multiple vessels operate in the same area, managing radio traffic and avoiding miscommunication becomes increasingly complex.
In both routine and emergency situations, environmental factors add further difficulty. Severe weather common in maritime areas doesn’t just pose physical dangers, it can also affect the performance of communication systems and limit situational awareness. The lack of precise location information for vessels, limited visibility from control centers and the need to coordinate over vast distances with frequently inadequate resources create a demanding communication environment.
To support effortless maritime operations, communication systems must be compact, reliable and capable of maintaining undisrupted connections across various conditions and user groups. Whether navigating routine patrols or responding to critical incidents, maritime teams depend on communication solutions that bridge distances, weather challenges and agency boundaries safely and effectively.
Agnet TETRA offers uncompromised coverage
Reliable connectivity is often lacking because commercial LTE networks are only available near the coast. To address this issue Airbus offers a modern broadband solution designed to improve efficiency and safety in operations where reliable connectivity is essential. By installing a TETRA base station and a local LTE network onboard the ship, teams inside the vessel and across different maritime sectors can use Agnet TETRA for communication.
In maritime operations, this hybrid TETRA and LTE network model enable the use of Agnet, which provides enhanced resilience, extended coverage, and the capacity for uninterrupted collaboration between the command room and vessels, in vessel-to-vessel communication, and within the ship itself. Agnet enables smooth communication between dispatchers, Agnet TETRA radios, and smartphone users, allowing for group communication across organizations and borders. Additionally, Agnet TETRA can incorporate advanced situational awareness features such as drones, CCTV camera feeds, multimedia tools, and more.
Easy deployment and fast communication between all groups make Agnet the ultimate choice for maritime operations
The comprehensive Agnet solution is the key in mission-critical communication, ensuring efficient and safe maritime operations. Agnet TETRA, along with the system’s compatibility with 4G/5G and satellite constellations, provides immediate access to voice, data, live video, file sharing, and location services.
- Inside the ship: Agnet enhances daily operations and optimizes resource use by streamlining routine communication. Automated and rapid notification systems across all in-ship departments help eliminate human errors and misunderstandings.
- Vessel-to-vessel communication: Agnet’s reliable and robust operation is vital for both routine and emergency maritime communication.
Command room to vessel: Agnet’s group communication feature facilitates effective coordination among all participating organizations.
Agnet’s key maritime users:
- National navies and coast guards in daily operations
- Rescue operations involving vessels, helicopters, and other emergency response teams
- Maritime transportation, customs, and port security, ensuring smooth international operations
Agnet over Satcom offers extended connectivity in coastal areas when needed
Agnet is capable of utilizing satellite communications, addressing potential gaps in coverage or temporary power outages affecting 4G/5G availability. This makes Agnet the optimal choice for maritime operations. Agnet over Satcom ensures coverage in coastal areas where commercial networks may be unavailable. These deployable networks can be installed on mobile platforms such as vessels or drones, combining the strengths of terrestrial broadband with the global reach and reliability of satellite communication.
With its seamless integration, advanced features, and unwavering reliability, Agnet stands out as the ultimate communication solution for navy and maritime operations, ensuring safe and efficient mission execution in even the most challenging maritime environments.
Find out more about Agnet
Agnet is more than just a push-to-talk solution. Broadband connectivity opens the door to the future of mission-critical communication.
