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From space to sea, Kinéis plays data sovereignty card
Detecting a vessel is no longer enough; it is essential to be able to verify its position and rely on the information collected. Thanks to satellite-based AIS and its anti-spoofing tools, Kinéis aims to enhance the reliability of maritime surveillance. By controlling the entire process, from signal collection to the processing of information – which is stored in France – the operator is in favour of a European approach to strategic data sovereignty.
- From space to sea: Kinéis collects signals from ships via its constellation of nanosatellites.
- Kin’Trust63, Kinéis’ anti-spoofing solution, aims to detect falsified ship positions and calculate their actual position.
© Kinéis
Thanks to its 25 nanosatellites, Kinéis extends the collection of AIS signals (the Automatic Identification System, which transmits vessels’ positions, amongst other data) beyond the areas covered by coastal ground stations. The French operator — Europe’s first operator of a satellite constellation dedicated to the Internet of Things (IoT) and AIS — claims a capacity of up to 100,000 vessels identified by their MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) data and 10 million messages received per day.
For defence and security stakeholders, the challenge also lies in thwarting attempts to manipulate information. “AIS can be subject to jamming and spoofing, which involve transmitting false position data to conceal or alter a vessel’s actual location,” explains Thomas Hiriart, General Manager of Kinéis, thereby underlining the importance of having reliable information to assess risks at sea.
Two technologies for maritime surveillance
At Euronaval, Kinéis is primarily showcasing two complementary solutions: Kin’AIS, which collects satellite AIS signals using multi-element antennas designed to optimise reception in densely trafficked maritime areas, and Kin’Trust63, which verifies the reliability of positions by detecting attempts to tamper with signals.
The latter utilises detection algorithms and the Doppler effect to identify inconsistencies and calculate a more reliable position with a claimed accuracy of around 5km. “Our approach is not just to transmit more data, but to instil greater confidence in the data,” Thomas Hiriart declares.
Sovereignty, from infrastructure to operational use
The reliability of information is also a matter of sovereignty: by controlling the entire chain – from satellite data collection to processing and the provision of data, which is stored and managed in France – Kinéis aims to offer European stakeholders an autonomous capability that does not depend exclusively on non-European infrastructure or suppliers.
The intended applications include, in particular, the surveillance of sensitive areas and strategic routes, the detection of unusual behaviour and the fight against illegal fishing, piracy and trafficking. The ambition presented at Euronaval, therefore, involves both enhancing the visibility of maritime activities and equipping users with the means to better interpret the information collected: “Moving from the ability to see ships to the ability to better understand what is happening at sea,” says Thomas Hiriart.
On Wednesday 4 November at 3pm, Kinéis is proposing a live demonstration of Kin’AIS, its satellite-based AIS service, and its Kin’Trust63 AIS anti-spoofing and position verification solution. The demonstration will take place at the company’s stand, F 93 in Hall 6.
- Linda Verhaeghe
