Iridium services include worldwide voice, paging, Short Message Service (SMS) and data communications using lightweight, handheld phones and paging devices. Iridium is a global communications system that uses a constellation of 66 satellites in a near polar Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with cross-link architecture. Iridium features Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards containing all user identification and account information, allowing customized options, shared use, and individual billing.
Iridium system
The Iridium system is a satellite-based, wireless personal communications network providing a robust suite of voice features to virtually any destination anywhere on earth. The system comprises three principal components: the satellite network, the ground network and the Iridium subscriber products including phones and pagers. The design of the Iridium network allows voice and data to be routed virtually anywhere in the world. Voice and data calls are relayed from one satellite to another until they reach the satellite above the Iridium Subscriber Unit (handset) and the signal is relayed back to Earth.
Terrestrial and space-based network
The Iridium constellation consists of 66 operational satellites and 14 spares orbiting in a constellation of six polar planes. Each plane has 11 mission satellites performing as nodes in the telephony network. The 14 additional satellites orbit as spares ready to replace any unserviceable satellite. This constellation ensures that every region on the globe is covered by at least one satellite at all times.
The satellites are in a near-polar orbit at an altitude of 485 miles (780 km). They circle the earth once every 100 minutes traveling at a rate of 16,832 miles per hour. Each satellite is cross-linked to four other satellites; two satellites in the same orbital plane and two in an adjacent plane. The ground network is comprised of the System Control Segment and telephony gateways used to connect into the terrestrial telephone system. The System Control Segment is the central management component for the Iridium system. It provides global operational support and control services for the satellite constellation, delivers satellite tracking data to the gateways, and performs the termination control function of messaging services. The System Control Segment consists of three main components: four Telemetry Tracking and Control sites, the Operational Support Network, and the Satellite Network Operation Center. The primary linkage between the System Control Segment, the satellites, and the gateways is via K-Band feeder links and cross-links throughout the satellite constellation.
Gateways are the terrestrial infrastructure that provides telephony services, messaging, and support to the network operations. The key features of gateways are their support and management of mobile subscribers and the interconnection of the Iridium network to the terrestrial phone system. Gateways also provide network management functions for their own network elements and links.
Iridium Satellite LLC has operations in Leesburg, Virginia where the Satellite Network Operations Center is located, and gateway facilities in Tempe, Arizona and Oahu, Hawaii in the United States.
SATCOM1 RESELLER
FOR
VIASAT AIRBORNE MOBILE BROADBAND PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
ViaSat Inc. has signed an agreement with Satcom1 to provide ViaSat Yonder Mobile Broadband Service to Business Aviation customers, offering a high-speed connectivity during flight.
Carlsbad, CA – ViaSat Inc. has appointed Satcom1 as a value-added reseller and customer support liaison for its new YonderSM Mobile Broadband Service, offering data, voice, roaming and TV Entertainment communication services for corporate, business, and military aircraft. Yonder Mobile Broadband Service offers passengers the ability to conduct normal business operations easily while in flight with office IP network applications and services, and also delivers entertainment options normally limited to home theater.
The ViaSat airborne broadband communication network enables a quality experience for aircraft passengers during flight, which will be enhanced when combined with high-end customer support provided by Satcom1.
The Yonder Mobile Broadband Service uses patented ViaSat ArcLight® mobile satellite technology, which enables use of a 12-inch, lightweight antenna, and offering aircraft data download speeds of up to 10 Mbps and uploads of up to 512 kbps. Passengers can send and receive broadband data, connect to a virtual private network, and access video programming using portable devices or onboard TVs.
“We are very excited to join ViaSat, because it provides Satcom1 opportunity to design satcom network for Head of State Aircrafts and Wide body VIP Aircrafts to operate with live TV during flight” said Karina Larsen, CEO of Satcom1. “This result in Satcom1 can deliver total satcom networks at lowest cost to end users needing cell phone, internet, fax and live TV on board”.
ViaSat enables service over North America, the North Pacific, the Caribbean, the North Atlantic, Europe, and the Persian Gulf. The network is continuing to expand through the cooperation of ViaSat and maritime broadband service-provider KVH Industries, with the goal of providing worldwide coverage by early 2010.
About Satcom1
Satcom1 was founded in 2003 by three former aeronautical satcom developers, managers and field supporters. It was identified, that customers investigating or maintaining satcom solutions for aircraft were missing a company who could be their single Onboard Solution Provider, assisting both before, during and after the installation of the satcom system and onboard network.
Its main activities are airtime provider for satellite communications, software development to provide internet access in aircrafts, consultancy and 24/7 support.
For more information regarding Satcom1, visit www.satcom1.com, e-mail sales@satcom1.com or call +45 4615 4546.
