A significant increase in payload capacity compared with other satellite-based M2M services in the market is claimed for Isatdata Pro from Inmarsat and Sky Wave Mobile Communications.
The low data rate service is for managing and communicating with remote assets around the world, and was jointly launched by the mobile satellite communications services company and Sky Wave, a provider of communications services for M2M applications.
It can deliver up to 10kbyte to the device and up to 6.4kbyte from the device.
This means it should be able to meet the increasing demand for richer information in M2M applications and allow businesses to share more data across diverse operations, via emails, electronic forms and workflow information. Applications include vehicle telemetry, text-messaging remote workers, maintaining up-to-date driver logs, and the remote management and control of fixed assets.
“The M2M market is set to continue its rapid growth globally, but it is currently under-served by services that cannot match the increasing data demands,” said Drew Brandy, director of land services at Inmarsat.
“By supporting a significant increase in the size of M2M messages, Isatdata Pro will provide better visibility of business operations, allow for risks to be managed more effectively and deliver enhanced efficiencies. Furthermore it does so with the support of the most reliable global mobile satellite network, the Inmarsat-4s, which have an expected operational lifetime into the 2020s.”
For mission critical applications, it can transmit a 100byte message in less than 15 seconds, or a 1kbyte message in 45 seconds – suitable for sending information to drivers operating in high-risk areas or for the effective use of sensors to manage remote equipment closely.
Sky Wave has a series of fully functional satellite terminals, modems and software tools to support the rapid integration of applications. Partners around the world are now integrating Isatdata Pro into their applications that support the transportation, oil, gas, utilities, scada, maritime, defence, security, commercial fishing and heavy equipment sectors.
“Isatdata Pro is a real game changer for our clients, for Inmarsat and for us,” said Sean Faulkner, vice president for Isatdata Pro at Sky Wave. “Previously limited to a few bytes of information, transportation companies can now go from tracking and monitoring for security purposes, to using the enhanced data to provide logistic services. Utilities can send more data, more reliably, from multiple sensors. Scada applications can go from alarm monitoring to really driving the performance and value of equipment.
“It enables organisations to stay in touch with remote assets and workers where, previously, this was technically impossible or prohibited by cost.”
Sky Wave’s IDP 600 series of all-weather data terminals includes integrated GPS, as well as digital and analogue ports for connecting sensors to relay data such as fuel levels, engine temperature and speed. Serial interfaces provide access to the detailed diagnostic and operation information necessary to increase visibility of how equipment is being used and to improve business productivity.
