US Coast Guard selects high data usage option for AIS
8 October 2008
By John Matthews
US Coast Guard has selected the high usage option for Automatic Identification System data from the AIS concept demonstration satellite under its agreement with Orbcomm, an American satellite data communications company.
According to Orbcomm, it will also modify Automatic Identification System (AIS) satellite and ground software and provide additional technical support to the US Coast Guard. In total, these amendments add almost $500,000 in revenue over the next 12-months.
Marc Eisenberg, CEO of Orbcomm, said: "This further demonstrates that the AIS service has been successful in providing the high usage data requirements under our agreement. We expect to further expand our AIS offering, including service from all six AIS enabled satellites, to the US government as well as international governments, and global commercial customers."
To upgrade its communication system Orbcomm launched of six new satellites in June 2008. The satellites are expected to provide additional capacity and improved message delivery. In addition, these satellites are equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS) payloads used for ship tracking and other navigational activities.
The AIS capability on the recently launched satellites has been demonstrated during initial tests. In the first 60 hours of operation alone, more than 700,000 transmissions were detected by the Coast Guard Demonstration satellite.
Recently Orbcomm and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced a next generation satellite procurement contract to build 18 new Orbocomm Generation 2 (OG2) satellites. All OG2 satellites will be equipped with AIS capability.