At its 110th meeting in London on June 25th, 2025, the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) included VDES in the Safety-of-Life-at-Sea (SOLAS) convention, as a carriage requirement, starting January 1st, 2028. As a market leader in AIS 2.0 (VDES, MCP/MMS, and other supplementary technologies) development, Sternula offers the world’s first end-to-end AIS 2.0 connectivity solution for maritime authorities. Our services are designed in accordance with IALA VDES guideline G1117, RTCM 13900.0, and IHO S-100 standards.
We take pride in our AIS 2.0 implementation solution. By building a global “network of networks”, we assist maritime authorities in ensuring S-100 data is being delivered securely to seafarers. Whether by VDE-SAT, VDE-TER, or an IP-connection, our MMS-based routing automatically selects the best connection.
Sternula delivers trusted and secure VDES global connectivity through strategic partnerships with other satellite operators. VDES is not only a tool for compliance, but also a robust platform for resilient maritime communication.
VDES satellite bandwidth and all required AIS 2.0 components through one plug-and-play solution at Sternula. End-to-end maritime connectivity has never been easier.
We offer two different trial package deals. A standard trial provides a ship with all necessary equipment for a transition from AIS to AIS 2.0, a VDES connectivity solution through VDE-SAT and IP connections. The extended trial brings additional components to shore, adding the possibility to communicate through VDE-TER, establishing full compliance and technological advancement on both ends of maritime communication.
All components of the Standard Trial, plus:
During the MaDaMe project, a pilot test of our AIS 2.0 solution on four different ships, we successfully demonstrated reception of navigational warnings.
The video shows the process of using NIORD to publish an S-124 Navigational Warning on board one of our demo vessels, Poul Løwenørn. This was all done using the setup descripted and depicted above, from shore to ship using a VDE-TER connection.
The MaDaMe project is carried out to ensure the quality of our solution. The results solidify our confidence. Sternula’s AIS 2.0 VDES Implementation solution is ready.
AIS 2.0 consists of two elements. Firstly, VDES, the key radio access technology enables significantly higher data rates than traditional AIS. Secondly, MMS, the network that routes data either by VDE-TER, VDE-SAT, or IP. By adding a digital signature, receivers can remain fully confident in the transmitted data, using MIR and MSR, integral components of the Maritime Connectivity Platform (MCP). To deliver a digital service, such as a S-124 (Navigational Warning), a Sternula MMS Proxy Shore sends and delivers the data to a Sternula MMS Proxy Ship, guiding any vessel out of harms way. This is just one of the many qualities our worldwide AIS 2.0 Implementation solution includes.
VDES enables the sending of digital data, where our MMS edge routers enables both ship and shore to receive it, thereby serving as the glue that binds everything together. Two-way communication in a way the maritime industry has never experienced before.
With our network of networks, Maritime authorities only focus on providing S-100 services, e.g. S-124 (Navigational Warnings), rather than the underlying infrastructure. Hardware and satellite connectivity, all provided through our service at Sternula. Our solution allows you to implement VDES according to IALA guideline G1117, ensuring compliance with the new IMO instruments around VDES.
