Telecomm Circuits (Falkland Islands)

The circuits required are business critical and provide comms for onsite forecasters who provide expert meteorological advice to British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) in their mission to deter military aggression against the South Atlantic Islands to maintain UK sovereignty. The circuits at Mount Alice, Mount Byron and Mount Kent are required to transfer observations to The Meteorologist Observations Reporting Terminal (MORTy), the user interface used by Defence Meteorologists to view automated station observational data and is also used to create METARs. The contract is urgently needed to ensure continuity of service for the telecomms circuits.

Currently, Sure South Atlantic Ltd have a contract to provide telecoms services in the Falklands until December 2027. At the initial time of drafting internal justification documents Sure South Atlantic Ltd are the only mature telecoms provider, with a proven track record of providing services to the Met Office, which can be deployed without significant delay.

It is understood that another provider has been officially licensed to operate in the Falkland Islands as of November 2025 however any procurement, installation and commissioning would take at least twelve months.

The only current feasible option is to renew the current circuit offerings through Sure South Atlantic Ltd. The Met Office intends to investigate the feasibility of Starlink or any other alternative solutions that become available during the term of the new contract.