Call: ESA study on satellite-based VDES in the Arctic

The study will be conducted under ESA's ARTES 4S programme line to define, assess and consolidate technical and programmatic options for services in the Arctic. The system study should be based on on a satellite-based VHF Data Exchange System (VDE-SAT) and will be conducted through the strategic programme line “Space Systems for Safety and Security” under 4S. 

This funding for the study is part of the Danish Government allocation at ESA’s Ministerial Conference 2025 in Bremen of EUR 1.7 million to the 4S programme line to establish a foundation for a potential public-private investment aimed at deploying a satellite constellation delivering VDE-SAT services in the Arctic, where it can enable vessels to exchange critical data in a significantly more secure manner. 

The purpose of the study is to provide relevant stakeholders with the technical and programmatic information necessary to make a decision on the potential development, validation, and demonstration of a VDE-SAT infrastructure, aiming for an operational date no later than 2030.

ESA has now opened the campaign on Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP), inviting Danish Economic Operators to express interest in undertaking the system study. Interested entities are also invited to join a webinar for further information on this RFI on 5th March 2026. 

The study shall primarily address needs of Danish public authorities for secure critical end-to-end communication services across the Arctic, including Greenland. Consultations with relevant stakeholders in Greenland should also be conducted as part of the study in order to assess the potential societal benefits for Greenland. Other regions may be considered if there are clear synergies. Inclusion of these regions should demonstrably support or strengthen the Arctic focus.  

The study shall also assess the potential for commercial services delivered by private partners co-investing in the initiative, and consider the inclusion of international partners, including authorities with similar needs in the Arctic (e.g., Canada and Norway). 

The definition phase shall be implemented with the objective of further developing, deploying, and operating such an infrastructure. The infrastructure implementation is not part of the study. 

The study must be carried out by Danish industrial and academic actors as primes, and it shall assess how a consortium could deliver such an infrastructure. The consortium behind the study may include non-Danish subcontractors, who must reside in an eligible ESA country and obtain a formal authorisation from their National Delegation prior to application.

The proposed work shall not overlap with any previous or presently running ESA or national activities awarded to any entity in the consortium. 

The study shall have a duration of up to nine months.

Deadline for submissionen of RFI: 27 March 2026

Should the study lead to a decision to continue with follow-on innovation activities supporting potential demonstrations in the Arctic, EUR 1.275 million has been allocated to contribute to cover ESA co-funding for the development, validation, and demonstration of a potential VDE-SAT infrastructure.

ESA study on satellite-based VDES in the Arctic: Early announcement of opportunity to participate in an ESA system study on satellite-based VDES in the ArcticOSIP Campaign: Request for Interest opened to Danish entities for a System Study on VDE-SAT addressing Arctic needs
Register for the webinar on 5th March 2026 (restricted to Danish entities)