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IMO Subcommittee Approves Iridium Application [Sea Technology](Sea Technology Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Iridium Communications' (McLean, Virginia) application to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the provision of mobile satellite communications in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) was reviewed by the IMO Subcommittee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) and will proceed to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its next meeting in November, before advancing to a group of experts for comprehensive technical and operational evaluation, expected by mid-2016. Iridium would be able to provide service in polar regions, unlike the incumbent GMDSS provider. Demand for reliable voice and data communications is on the rise in the polar regions as shipping and trade routes continue to expand there. Iridium will begin deploying its second generation constellation (Iridium NEXT) in 2015, offering greater capacity, bandwidth and data speeds, as well as backwards compatibility for existing products and services in the market. In anticipation of IMO recognition, Iridium is working with established maritime communications equipment manufacturers for the production and certification of GMDSS terminals that use the Iridium network, along with Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers and service providers. Expected to be available before the end of 2015, GMDSS terminals using the Iridium network are designed to have an operational longevity of nearly 20 years. (c) 2014 Compass Publications, Inc. |