The VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) is a future maritime communication system with the principal objective of enhancing maritime communication applications, based on robust and efficient digital transmission with wider bandwidth than Automatic Identification System (AIS), with a data rate up to 32 times the current AIS. As for AIS, VDES is mainly a ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore system. The ship-to-shore system will use the terrestrial VDES infrastructure that will extend the VDES coverage to only around 60 km from the shore.

At the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015, ITU-R Resolution 360 was included in the agenda for WRC-19 (agenda item 1.9.2), to consider modifications of the Radio Regulations, including new spectrum allocations for the satellite component of VDES. The aim is to enable a new VDES satellite component which will support long range communications between ships and shore and in areas where there is limited terrestrial infrastructure for VDES transmissions. Satellite VDES will make it possible to establish ship-to-shore communications for vessels throughout the Arctic region.