The Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science plans to open a national call for proposals for a system study on a satellite-based VHF Data Exchange System solution in February 2026. The study will define, assess, and consolidate infrastructure options for delivering such services in the Arctic.
The Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science will allocate up to EUR 425.000 to support a system study on a satellite-based VHF Data Exchange System (VDE-SAT). The study will be conducted through ESA’s ARTES strategic programme line “Space Systems for Safety and Security” (4S).
This funding 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.
VDE-SAT enables the direct connection of digital shore-based services (such as weather forecasts, navigational warnings, virtual buoys, and route optimization) with onboard critical systems. Unlike the existing automatic identification system (AIS), VDE-SAT provides the technological foundation for more robust and secure maritime communications, as the incorporation of authentication and digital signatures may help to prevent so-called AIS spoofing. AIS spoofing is the deliberate manipulation of a vessel’s AIS unit to transmit false position or identity data. This makes the vessel appear to be located elsewhere or to be an entirely different ship.
In short, VDE-SAT enables vessels operating in the Arctic to exchange critical data in a significantly more secure manner.
The Government’s prioritisation is based on ESA’s assessment of Denmark as a leading country when it comes to VHF Data Exchange System (VDES), particularly in the use of satellite-based technology to deliver VDES services. Several Danish public authorities also have a significant interest in deploying secure maritime communications, especially in the Arctic, and several trials of VDES technology have already been conducted in Danish waters. Denmark is therefore well positioned to assume a coordinating role in engaging stakeholders and potential users in and around the Arctic.
In partnership with ESA ARTES 4S, the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science plans to launch a national call for proposals for the system study in mid-February 2026. Contracts are expected to be signed by August 2026 at the latest.
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.
The deliverables shall in particular include:
The study shall primarily address the needs of public authority users for critical end-to-end communication services across their geographical areas of interest, in particular the Arctic, including Greenland, and while not excluding other regions in case of clear synergies. It must also explore the potential for commercial services delivered by private partners co-investing in the initiative. 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.
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 consortium shall include relevant Danish public authorities in the needs assessment, e.g.:
This may be done through, e.g., workshops, interviews, and consultations, where user needs are collected, solution options are presented, and the results of the study are validated.
The study shall also consider the possibility of including international partners, including authorities with similar needs in the Arctic, such as Canada and Norway.
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 cover ESA co-funding for the development, validation, and demonstration of a potential VDE-SAT infrastructure.
Eligible activities for the system study will be funded according to the percentages indicated below (within the limit of EUR 425,000):
Partners from other ESA Member States involved in the study shall bear their own costs (supported by their respective national delegations and/or own resources).
The call for proposals will result in the award of one single system study.
The activity is related to, but independent of, the ongoing standardisation and interoperability activity on VDE-SAT, which has recently been awarded to a consortium led by the Danish company Sternula A/S.
Title: Chefkonsulent
Email: pse@ufm.dk
Phone: +45 72 31 82 02
Title: Fuldmægtig
Email: amv@ufm.dk
Phone: +45 72 31 95 01
