More South Africa IP Communications Stories

ORBCOMM has announced that the company will soon construct a Gateway (News - Alert) Earth Station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa.

The company has also signed an agreement with CSIR Satellite Applications Center for the establishment, installation and maintenance operation at the site.

A GES will consist of two radomes, with enclosed VHF tracking antennas, one of which is largely redundant, and associated pedestals, controllers and radio equipment, an uninterruptible power source and back-up generator. They link the ground segment with the ORBCOMM (News - Alert) satellites.

Offering low-cost, near real-time, two-way M2M satellite communications, this new GES is a terrestrial link to ORBCOMM's network of low-Earth orbit satellites. The construction on the GES commenced in early April 2010. The CSIR satellite Applications Centre has stated that it is pleased to have been awarded the contract to build the GES for ORBCOMM within South Africa.

“The unique attributes of ORBCOMM make it an ideal network for a wide range of M2M applications," said Christian Allred, Senior Vice President of International at ORBCOMM. "ORBCOMM offers contiguous coverage, which provides an ideal solution for many mobile and fixed applications in South Africa and the surrounding areas, many of which are under-served by terrestrial networks,” continued Christian Allred.

With a single global standard, ORBCOMM's expanding network of ground infrastructure makes it possible for VARs, IVARs and OEMs to develop a product. The customers can also enjoy world-wide operation with a single airtime agreement and no roaming charges. With this, the experts believe that M2M market in South Africa will benefit greatly from having the choice and availability to connect to ORBCOMM's global constellation of Low Earth Orbit Satellites.

Recently, the company announced that ORBCOMM AIS data was used to help rescue two yachters in distress and in detecting low power search and rescue transponders from space. In a report, dated Dec. 31, 2009, to the International Maritime Organization’s Sub-Committee on Radio communications and Search and Rescue, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority highlighted the use of ORBCOMM’s satellite AIS data by Australia’s Rescue Coordination Centre.