NTL signs £1.6m lifeboat deal

Cable giant NTL has signed a deal with the lifeboat charity the RNLI to provide a high-speed wide area network connecting more than 200 lifeboat stations and beach rescue centres around the UK.

The £1.6m (£0.89bn), three-year deal, will cover sites around much of the UK and Republic of Ireland's coastline.

Tom Bennie, managing director of NTL's business division, said: "NTL has a strong existing relationship with the RNLI and we look forward to extending this partnership to develop a state-of-the-art communications solution that meets all its requirements."

"The network is designed to be fully scalable, enabling the provision of additional connections so that as the RNLI grows, the network will evolve with it, providing support well into the future," added Bennie in a statement.

The WAN solution utilises NTL's Broadband Power, IP Net and Ether Point to Point products and it is hoped it will enhance the RNLI's crew callout radiopaging system.

A spokeswoman for NTL said it should ensure the faster deployment of lifeboats in an emergency, cutting down on system delays, such as gaining dial-up access to the network, that can make all the difference where lives are concerned.

The WAN will also be used for email and may also provide distance learning services for RNLI volunteers.