Airbus Defence and Space has secured a deal to provide satellite communication systems for French national procurement agency UGAP.

Under the four-year deal, Airbus will provide equipment and services for fixed and mobile satellite communications (Satcom), which are available in Ku and Ka frequency bands.

"We are pleased to make our expertise available to the French administration.”

To be procured by UGAP, the Satcom systems will be used by France’s Interior Ministry’s General Directorate for Civil Security, the departmental fire and emergency response brigades, and around 40 other departments.

Satcom allows transmission of voice and data communications in remote locations, including those without mobile network coverage.

The system further enables communications after natural disasters and high-traffic occasions such as terrorist attacks.

Airbus Defence and Space secure communications business cluster French business head Eric Souleres said: “As a pioneer in satellite communication services for governments, we are pleased to make our expertise available to the French administration.”

Functioning under the administration of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education, UGAP currently serves the public state administrations and institutions, as well as local authorities, social sector and public health facilities.

Airbus Defence and Space currently covers the complete range of frequency bands, including L, C, Ku, Ka, X and UHF, as well as provides military satellite communications to various armed forces, including those of the UK, France, Germany, Canada, the US and others.