Australian mobile satellite services provider Pivotel has been selected as a launch partner for Iridium Communications’ next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT, which will aim to bring metropolitan mobile data capabilities to the bush.
Iridium said its CertusSM multi-service platform would provide high speed mobile data coverage to the entire Earth, connecting oceans, deserts, airways and polar regions, "representing a breakthrough for regional communications in Australia and around the world."
Iridium Communications invested US$3 billion in the project to replace the existing constellation of satellites with more powerful capabilities. "To date, there have been four successful Iridium NEXT launches, with four additional releases slated for 2018," it said. ‘Iridium Certus is planned for commercial availability in mid-2018.
"Using the new Iridium NEXT satellite constellation, Iridium Certus will eventually offer users data speeds of up to 1.4Mbps while on the move, using lightweight, small form factor antennas that can be mounted on virtually any vehicle or asset," it added.
Pivotel CEO Peter Bolger said the upgraded satellite constellation provided consumers living and working in rural and remote areas withthe ese of min twith te measy to make use of the industrial internet from virtually anywhere on the plan et.
“As a licensed service provider focused on remote communications and mobile satellite, we will play a pivotal role in bringing Iridium Certus to our direct customers in Australia, New Zealand and North America, and via our wholesale partners to customers around the world, delivering the secure and reliable service that is so important to the digital economy,’ said Bolger.
Regional emergency services will be among the first to benefit from Iridium Certus, by keeping remote officers within State Emergency Services, Rural Fire, Ambulance and Police connected with high speed data services on compact mobile devices while in the field and on the go.
“Through its unique combination of low earth orbiting satellites, small form factor equipment and antennas and breakthrough performance, Iridium Certus will open up many new markets for mobile satellite data,” Bolger said.
The partnership announcement was made today at Satellite 2018 in Washington.