Introduction

In 1994 when two fishermen lost their lives off the Cornish coast near a recently closed Coastguard lookout, local people decided to open and restore the visual watch.

When the first station was opened at Bass Point on the Lizard, the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) was born. Today, 61 stations staffed by over 2800 highly trained volunteers keep a visual watch around the coastline of England and Wales, with more in the pipeline.

National Coastwatch is a charity staffed and managed by volunteers whose mission is to help save lives at sea and around the UK coastline. If you, a family member or friend uses the coastal waters or the shoreline, we are watching and keeping you safe.

In 2025 the charity was involved with 937 incidents across all its stations, this resulted in 866 people being assisted or rescued by various search & rescue organisations.

Rapid and reliable communications are essential for the NCI to help to save lives, so their systems need to be reliable and future proof.

The Challenge

The NCI operates 61 Stations across nine sectors from North Yorkshire down to Kent. Along the south coast to Cape Cornwall, then north up the Bristol Channel and across to Wales before finally finishing at Fleetwood in Lancashire.

No location is the same with stations sited on cliff tops, or overlooking beaches, along busy promenades or looking out over river estuaries & harbours.

Each station is housed in a unique building from converted beach huts and shipping containers to repurposed towers. The real estate could not be more different!

Power and connectivity vary from Station to Station, with some totally off grid and powered by solar & wind power.

NCI’s Communications Requirement

For the NCI the requirement was quite straightforward, a reliable voice and data signal (for video and CCTV) at each of the 61 sites. Also future proofed (technology) and offering potential savings from its current operating system, (NCI are a charity so funds are limited). Finally, personal customer service to support installation or subsequent issues that may arise.

The previous operating system was letting the NCI down with poor connectivity and poor reliability linked with high costs.

As a result, the NCI issued a tender to renew their communications services.

The Complete Voice & Data Solution

At Complete Voice & Data we pride ourselves on customer service excellence and network independence. These attributes were core to our business solution.

This was no ordinary comms quote, it required detailed background checks for hardware, software and connectivity solutions.

• Each Station was analysed for Mobile signal, Fixed line capability and Satellite suitability, working with network partners to source the information.
• We engaged with each Station Manager to qualify our findings to ensure there were no blackspots or anomalies particular to the Station.
• Complete Voice & Data built a full profile of each Station and double-checked the recommendation for each; either fixed, mobile or satellite.
• We analysed which network (fixed or mobile) offered the best unlimited data solution for each Station.

Our bespoke and considered solution led to Complete Voice & Data being awarded the National Coastwatch contract!

Deploying the new Comms

For each Station Complete Voice & Data Created a comms pack, which was produced in consultation with the Station Manager. Hardware was preprogrammed by Complete Voice & Data before despatch – to minimise onsite set up.

A router, antenna, cables and DECT handset formed most Station comms packs, which on despatch were accompanied with an email containing passwords required for set up. The router also has a dual SIM set up for back up connectivity.

And of course, the Complete Voice & Data tech team were available for any queries, issues or general support.

And Finally

The Complete Voice & Data solution will save the NCI up to £30k per annum, funds which can now be redirected to saving lives at sea and education to prevent lives being lost. For a charity this is significant as it means donations are spent on frontline services.

During the process Complete Voice & Data worked with the NCI to secure a grant from one of its partner organisations which was used towards the telecoms upgrade .

With a nod to developments in AI and camera technology, Complete Voice & Data has ensured the system is compatible with another one of the charities partners (Sirius Insight) who is providing CCTV to each station. Plus each Station has bandwidth to stream high quality video.

At Complete Voice & Data we are proud of the work we have done and are doing with the NCI, it is a perfect demonstration of our bespoke, service led and independent approach.

Are you ready for a new communications partner?