Inmarsat has forged a strategic alliance to use satellite M2M specialist Orbcomm’s technology, creating a standardised platform to address increasing demand for connected machines.
The two companies will collaborate on joint product development and…
Inmarsat has forged a strategic alliance to use satellite M2M specialist Orbcomm’s technology, creating a standardised platform to address increasing demand for connected machines.
The two companies will collaborate on joint product development and distribution, and will also explore future satellite network expansion and integration.
The deal expands the reach of New Jersey-based Orbcomm, which is building a series of interchangeable modems that can be powered by its VHF network and Inmarsat’s L-band system. It will give the company access to Inmarsat’s IsatData Pro satellite packet data service, which it claims offers the highest payload and lowest latency in the market. It will also get access to the UK-based MSS operator’s BGAN M2M 3G service, which it said was the only one of its kind in the M2M space to offer real-time IP data up to 512 kbps on a single global SIM.
Orbcomm CEO Marc Eisenberg said: “Our goal with Inmarsat is to create a compelling offering for the M2M industry by developing a truly innovative, scalable – and most importantly – a standard satellite-based global M2M platform. We want to make it as easy as possible for M2M solutions companies to use the most appropriate network for their unique application needs without having to invest huge amounts of development time and capital in each capability.”
For Inmarsat, the partnership enables it to leverage on Orbcomm’s 20 years of expertise in the M2M space, which was once an extremely niche market but is now growing rapidly as technology improves and costs fall.
Rupert Pearce, Inmarsat’s CEO, said: “Our combined strengths will be unmatched in the satellite M2M space. We look forward to working with Orbcomm to maximize our service offerings in the satellite industry and expand our footprint in M2M through our ground-breaking standard satellite platform.”
Inmarsat operates a constellation of L-band geostationary satellites and is nearing the launch of its next generation Ka-band Global Xpress system. Orbcomm’s constellation is in a low-Earth orbit, and the group is counting down to the SpaceX launch of eight of its next generation OG2 satellites before the end of this year.
Under their new partnership, the two operators will look to find synergies in leveraging technologies, capital expenditures, product development, satellite operations, and ground infrastructure support for future satellite deployments.
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