Systems deployments part of an ongoing, strategic program demonstrating the strong partnership between AAD and Speedcast.
Speedcast, announced today that it has conducted systems deployments for the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) to improve overall communications capabilities at multiple research sites in Antarctica.
Based in Kingston, Tasmania, the AAD operates year-round stations in Antarctica and depends on Speedcast connectivity to complete research, send data and keep in touch with the rest of the world while operating from the southernmost continen
AAD will draw on Speedcast’s recently deployed communications solution on the RSV Nuyina to establish best practices for ensuring the highest level of connectivity across their land-based site.
Speedcast’s SD-WAN and TrueBeam smart network management solutions are being delivered to AAD to satisfy their remote communications needs, as well as to enable future expansion, including the addition of LEO services.
AAD’s three Antarctic research stations and Macquarie Island are being provided with a secondary communication system as part of the contract.
The existing primary communications system is also being enhanced in addition to the supply, installation, and commissioning of these services. These connectivity demands are primarily motivated by AAD’s work health and safety programme as the research stations are situated on ice.
All AAD sites are inaccessible to personnel during the winter season due to environmental hazards. If the primary communications system is unavailable for any reason, sites may have no data collection or communications, as a result.
A secondary communications link ensures that the remote sites have an extra layer of safety and redundancy.
James Trevelyan, Senior Vice President of Enterprise and Emerging Markets at Speedcast says Speedcast’s communications solution for AAD delivers exciting technology innovation and network automation to keep their remote research stations connected, ensuring 100% uptime at the end of the Earth.
“Since joining forces as AAD’s connectivity partner, we’ve been able to offer a solution to increase their network capacity 100-fold.”
“The research stations systems deployments enable the delivery of a strong workplace health and safety program for AAD’s highly skilled personnel who spend extended periods of time in the very harsh, remote site locations, conducting critical scientific research efforts.” said Trevelyan,
The agreement follows Speedcast’s continued support of environmental research and exploration efforts in Antarctica, including partnering to deliver connectivity services enabling awareness of major climate action .
