Inmarsat, RacoWireless Team Up to Expand Satellite M2M Communication Service IsatData Pro

Machine to machine (M2M) technology enables communication between devices. It’s the technology powering the Internet of Things (IoT), or the growing trend of everyday things – cars, thermostats, clothing, jewelry, refrigerators, baby thermometers, light bulbs – becoming smarter via connectivity. For some devices, connectivity from services like ZigBee, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi are enough for the devices to communicate. For other applications, however, cellular or satellite networks are required for more reliability. Using a satellite network for M2M applications expands their reach and enables data communications virtually anywhere on the globe – perfect for the remote, rugged locations characteristic of many industrial verticals such as oil, gas, and mining.

Inmarsat (News - Alert), a provider of global mobile satellite communications services, recently selected RacoWireless as a global distribution partner for IsatData Pro, a two-way message service for M2M communication. Perfect for tracking and telemetry, the service allows companies to track and monitor their assets, giving them increased visibility into business operations, improved efficiency and better safety and security. IsatData Pro runs over Inmarsat’s I-4 global network, so there are never any roaming charges.

IsatData Pro will be added to RacoWireless’ M2M portfolio and will focus on Latin America’s fleet management market, enabling users to ensure the safety and security of their fixed and mobile assets in regions not covered by terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure. The number of fleet management systems in Latin America is expected to increase from 1.6 million units in 2012 to 3.3 million units in 2017, growing at a CAGR of 16.3 percent,  according to Berg Insight. That’s below the number of fleet management systems predicted in North America, which is expected to rise from 3.3 million units in 2012 to 6.8 million units by 2017. But the market is growing fast – North America’s predicted CAGR for these systems is only 15.6 percent.

“Satellite connectivity services are swiftly becoming an essential component within the expanding M2M market, enabling solution providers to extend the reach and resilience of their M2M networks to virtually any region on Earth,” said Joel Schroeder, director of M2M strategy and market development, Inmarsat Enterprise Business Unit. “RacoWireless represents a new generation of partner for Inmarsat; one that brings M2M expertise into the sales channel and provides access to new market segments which have not traditionally deployed satellite connectivity as part of their M2M offering.  With RacoWireless’ outstanding platform and customer support, satellite services are now opened up to virtually any solutions and service provider, regardless of size.”

RacoWireless’ Omega Management Suite (OMS) is a cloud-based dashboard that provides partners with custom control of their connected solution. IsatData Pro will be added to OMS, bringing device management features such as graphical reporting, subscriber insight and responsive design technologies to Inmarsat M2M users. OMS recently received an award from the M2M Evolution Conference & Expo Battle of the Platforms for the best provisioning solution.

“Our mission is to make it easy for companies across the world to build, deploy and manage M2M solutions in virtually any industry sector. The addition of Inmarsat’s global satellite network into OMS allows our partners the ability to have the coverage where and when they most need it,” said John Horn, president of RacoWireless. “The relationship with Inmarsat enables our partners to extend the reach of their network to sites outside the scope of their existing terrestrial network partners, without the need to invest in additional infrastructure.  It also allows for the deployment of a truly global M2M solution through a single platform.”

RacoWireless is expected to add the Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) M2M service, which provides simultaneous voice and broadband data communications globally, to its portfolio in the future. BGAN is accessible via a range of small, lightweight satellite terminals that provide performance options for different operational needs.