Iridium Satellite said Thursday it has named Global Satellite as the tenth value-added developer for its telecom network. Global Satellite – an Iridium service provider since 1999 – has developed the first high-speed data-transmission application that can be used with Iridium’s network of 66 operating satellites and 11 in-orbit spares.
Iridium established its VAD program last year to build relationships with companies with technical expertise or the capability to develop new products or solutions using Iridium.
“We had all these companies saying they were developing applications for our network and asking us, Where do we fit in?'” Liz DeCastro, an Iridium spokeswoman, told SpaceDaily.com.
She said the company has been growing steadily by exploiting the markets for defense, government, maritime and aviation communications. “We’ve had five straight profitable quarters,” DeCastro said.
The Global Satellite product, marketed as PlaneSight, uses multiple satellite channels to transmit high-quality pictures or low-frame-rate video to ground stations through a secure encrypted link. It also can send pre-programmed text messages or typed messages with the onscreen keyboard and user interface, and all messages include precise GPS location information.
