Diplomatic missions can be located in some of the most remote and hostile locations globally. Their security and protection is paramount, yet often their personnel find themselves in situations where their information and personal security are compromised.
Embassy Requirements
These personnel require robust, reliable and secure communications. Host nation infrastructure, costly satellite and GSM networks, short range, Very High (VHF) and Ultra High Frequencies (UHF) and Line of Sight (LoS) communications introduce undue risks. Having only these modes of communications creates a higher risk of interception, network congestion or simply being out of range. With the majority of radio providers, a “one-size fits all” system, these typically require costly and regular software updates and hardware maintenance resulting in unplanned, planned or service delays due to system downtime. These interruptions cost money, time and most importantly compromise communications and jeopardise personnel security.
Codan Communications system solution
By utilising a High Frequency (HF) radio network, it removes the dependency on host nation infrastructure and as previously mentioned possible compromise of critical information. The HF network supports secure voice and data communications between diplomatic missions in the local region and with longer distance, inter-continental missions enabling daily work and reporting and the coordination of extraction of mission critical staff.
Unlike conventional cellular, satellite and Line of Sight (VHF & UHF) technology, all of which rely on costly land based infrastructure, a HF radio requires no fixed and / or shared infrastructure, and as such, it is often the only reliable means of communications. HF communications simply require a transceiver and antenna system at each location; no other fixed infrastructure is required. The unique nature of HF radio is such that it can be deployed in any location globally, and the advancements in HF technology, including 2nd and 3rd Generation Automatic Link Establishment (ALE), enabling secure voice and data networks to be established efficiently. Other advancements include integration into an Internet Protocol (IP) network, be that Intranet or Internet, allowing greater flexibility to the network users.
Codan Communications Software Defined Radios (SDR) ease of use interface makes operating the radio as simple as using a cell phone, allowing a user to make voice calls, sending data messages and situational awareness information intuitively. Utilising Codan’s unique Digital Voice technology, their HF radio provides clear and reliable voice communications, with cellular network comparable clarity. Dependant on communications distance requirements, Codan can support and supply a variety of amplified power systems and antenna requirements. Codan’s success and experience within HF communications have enabled a portfolio of pre-defined mission configurations to be defined dependent on range and requirement:
- Utilising a High Frequency (HF) radio network, it removes the dependency on host nation infrastructure. It requires no fixed and / or shared infrastructure
- Codan Communications Software Defined Radios (SDR) ease of use interface makes operating the radio as simple as using a cell phone
- The RIOS provides seamless interoperability between a range of communications devices including other vendor radios, cell phones and computers
- Codan's SprintChat® and SprintNet® provide fast and secure HF data communications, including Peer-2-Peer email, file transfer and chat messaging
- Codan's XTEND® Smartphone Application allows a user to operate their Codan software defined transceiver via smartphone or tablet
• Primary Diplomatic Mission – typical mission Headquarters. 1kW System with directional log periodic antenna (LPA)
• Short to Medium Range Mission – (<1,000km) – 125W System with 9.5m whip and antenna tuner
• Medium to Long Range Mission – (1,000km –
2,000km) – 500W System with 9.5m whip and antenna
tuner
• Long Range Mission – (2,000km – 3,000km) – 1kW
System with directional LPA
• Very Long Range Mission – (>3,000km) – 1kW System
with directional LPA
Download the Embassy Diplomatic Mission High Frequency Solution here
Additional Codan Communications network enhancements
The Codan Communications interoperability solution (RIOS) provides seamless interoperability between a range of communications devices including other vendor radios, cell phones and computers, enabling a fully integrated secure communications network.
Codan Communications SprintChat® and SprintNet® utilise the benefits of the 3rd Generation ALE waveform to provide fast and secure HF data communications, including Peer-2-Peer email, file transfer and chat messaging. Short Messaging Service (SMS) and Internet email are supported via the SprintNet® gateway. The flexibility and interoperability benefits of the Codan Sprint solution provides a powerful extension to your HF network.
All Over-The-Air (OTA) traffic can be encrypted using AES-256 encryption, giving peace of mind that the security and integrity of your traffic is being maintained, while Codan proprietary techniques ensure protection from possible unwanted attempts to disrupt your network ALE links by hostile third parties utilising a user programmable 56 bit Link Protection Key.
Codan Communications Virtual Control Point (VCP) application enables operation of your Codan HF software defined transceiver with the convenience of a PC or tablet style device, using either a wired or Wi-Fi connection, VCP seamlessly integrates your device and Codan transceiver allowing full radio functionality at remote locations or local to the radio. VCP allows simultaneous control across multiple devices or control of multiple transceivers from one device.
Codan Communications XTEND® Smartphone Application allows a user to operate their Codan software defined transceiver via smartphone or tablet. The XTEND® application enables the user to operate the connected radio in all commonly used voice modes, and also allows for text based messaging. Remote GPS position data and real time situational awareness from other HF station on the network can also be quickly and easily displayed on the smartphone via the Google Maps application.
Codan Communications experience and expert knowledge in the provision of communication solutions ensures that our customer needs are satisfied.
Our Embassy and Diplomatic solution addresses the requirements for independent, reliable and robust communications enabling secure voice and data traffic in some of the harshest and hostile environments globally.
Use Case scenario example
The United States uses High Frequency (HF) radio for emergency purposes, in a set up known as the Emergency and Evacuation Network (E&E). The network includes all US embassies, consulate generals, consulates along with some domestic government offices and military bases. A dedicated group of frequencies (all in the Upper Side Band or USB) are grouped within a 2nd Generation Automatic Link Establishment (2G ALE) network.
On the evening of 11th September 2012, a terrorist attack on the American Diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, resulted in deaths of the US Ambassador and the Foreign Service Information Officer. In the early hours of the following morning, September 12th, the terrorist group launched a further attack on the CIA complex approximately 1km away, killing two contractors and wounding ten others.
Within 45 minutes of the initial attack, the Secretary of Defence and the Joint Staff were notified, and within 2 hours, the surviving US personnel were evacuated from the mission to a safe location to await extraction. Utilising the US Global HF (E&E) network and 2G ALE facilitated the passage of secure information to and from Benghazi, Tripoli and Washington DC, including situational reports, casualty reports and extraction coordination plans, and the deployment of a quick reaction force from Tripoli to supress the attack and support the extraction of the surviving mission staff. Within four hours, US troops from Spain and Germany were airborne en-route to Libya to assist in the incident, and within 7 hours, those nonessential mission staff were evacuated on a US Air Force aircraft out of Libya.
The swift coordination response supported by the Global, Sovereign Diplomatic High Frequency Communications Network proved vital in the evacuation of diplomatic mission staff.
Products Mentioned in Solution Case Study
Sentry Mesh 6161
The Sentry Mesh 6161 is a Software Defined Radio based on our highly robust MANET waveforms that have been proven in applications from Special Forces to Unmanned Systems and Covert Operations.
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Envoy
Envoy sets a new standard for HF radio – with second generation digital voice, software upgradability, remote IP control, multi-language User Interface and embedded modems options.
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SprintChat
Codan’s SprintChat Software provides fast, secure, high performance messaging and file transfer capabilities over HF radio.
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SprintNet
Codan SprintNet Software provides fast, secure, high performance messaging and file transfer capabilities over HF radio, as well as a gateway to support interchange of SMS messages and internet email.
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Codan Xtend
Codan's XTEND app allows you to operate your Codan radio via your smartphone or tablet.
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