The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has launched a £175 million ($291m) coastguard emergency response network across UK coastlines.

The network will aim to prevent the loss of life on the coast and the sea.

The deployment features 1,220km of fiber-optic broadband and microwave technology, 163 radio stations, and spans 11,000 miles of coastline across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and England.

Technology firm Telent designed and built the network, with construction beginning in December 2020.

The company will also operate the upgraded network under the terms of a 10-year agreement signed with the MCA.

“The national radio network is integral in supporting our mission of preventing the loss of life on the coast and at sea, enhancing our ability to respond to emergencies across the UK,” said Matthew Leat, assistant chief coastguard at HM Coastguard.

Joanne Gretton, CEO at Telent, added: “The reliable digital connection and the improved resilience provided by the new network will aid HM Coastguard’s life-saving search and recuse operations for years to come with Telent on hand to provide its critical expertise

“Having first begun working together in 2010, maintaining radio equipment at the remote radio sites and delivering additional support services, Telent and MCA’s relationship has moved from strength to strength.”

The first sites to be switched to the new network included Lee-on-the-Solent, Crystal Palace, Humber, Bridlington, and Brighton Marina.