Alen Space confirms the completion of the first demonstrator pilot campaign of VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) technology aboard its SATMAR satellite. Over the past week, several use cases were tested in a real maritime environment in cooperation with Egatel and with the support of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA).

The first demonstrator pilot enabled message exchange between a vessel and the port control center to optimize transit times, reduce emissions, and improve port coordination. A second pilot validated the transmission of environmental and oceanographic data from a drifting vessel, simulating an offshore buoy, illustrating the type of applications that VDES technology will enable using low-cost equipment and a secure communications channel specifically designed for the maritime domain.

In addition, Alen Space conducted a demonstration of long-range reception of AIS (Automatic Identification System) messages from the SATMAR satellite, allowing vessel tracking even when ships are operating beyond the coverage of coastal stations. The final pilot of this campaign will be carried out with the collaboration of Oritia & Boreas, which will install a VDES transmission terminal at one of its meteorological stations in the Bay of Algeciras. Alen Space, together with Egatel and other partners, will continue to conduct additional demonstration campaigns and pilot projects across different ports and use cases in the coming months.

SATMAR was launched into orbit on 23 June 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Shortly thereafter, Alén Space successfully established first contact with the satellite. Since then, the in-orbit validation phase of the various subsystems and payloads has been carried out.

The main goal of SATMAR is to open a new chapter for the maritime sector by demonstrating the feasibility of the VDES communication standard in orbit, a technology set to eventually replace the current AIS (Automatic Identification System). This new technology enables bidirectional satellite communications in the VHF band, even in remote offshore areas. The expanded functionalities offered by VDES also promise major improvements in the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of maritime traffic, along with new possibilities for digital services in port environments.

Developed entirely by Alen Space, the SATMAR satellite is part of a project that also includes Egatel as a partner and the collaboration of the technology center Gradiant. The project has been funded through the Ports 4.0 program, an innovation-driven initiative for the maritime sector promoted by Puertos del Estado and the Spanish Port Authorities.

This 6U nanosatellite will operate over Spain and its surrounding waters, with use cases developed in collaboration with the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras and other maritime sector companies such as Oritia & Boreas.

Guillermo Lamelas, CEO of Alén Space, expressed his satisfaction with the results of the project’s initial pilots: “SATMAR has demonstrated its capability to provide bidirectional communications under the VDES standard in a real maritime environment. The validated functionalities are expected to deliver a substantial improvement in the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of maritime traffic, while simultaneously enabling new opportunities for the provision of digital services at sea. Satellite-based VDES ensures that vessels can maintain continuous communications with shore even in the high seas, receive emergency alerts, and access up-to-date operational information for route optimization, thereby contributing to reduced fuel consumption and associated emissions.”

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