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January 2001
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EMS enters U.S. transportation tracking market
04 January 2001
Washington - EMS Technologies is poised to enter the U.S. market for satellite-based mobile data terminals now that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has licensed its technology, company officials said on Jan. 4.
Mobile data terminals provide two-way links to trucks, trains and boats via satellite. Incorporating data from the U.S. Global Positioning System, the terminals can transmit information on a vehicle's location, condition and fuel supplies.
The EMS system also can send and receive messages for the driver.
Among EMS' competitors in the mobile data communications market are: Dulles, Virginia-based Orbcomm; San Diego-based Qualcomm Inc. [QCOM]; Norcomm Corp., Grass Valley, California and Motient Corp. [MTNT], Reston, Virginia.
The FCC initially held off on the license because of concerns that the signal for EMS' new PDT-100 terminal unit would interfere with certain communications services using frequencies in the L-band portion of the radio spectrum. The agency had reserved the frequencies for an as yet unused aviation system, Gary Hebb, vice president of engineering and business for EMS' Ottawa-based Satcom unit, said.
EMS' system, which, began service in Canada in March 2000, is designed to operate exclusively on the MSAT 1 satellite owned by TMI Communications, Ottawa. EMS has sold 400 units in Canada, Jay McMillian, vice president of sales and marketing at the company's Satcom division, told Spacenews.com.
While EMS initially will target the U.S. trucking industry, the applications for the technology are "virtually endless," McMillian said. There are over 77 million large trucks in the United States, and less than 1 percent of those have data links to satellites.
"The FCC approval represents a major milestone for both our companies in delivering the latest innovation in mobile satellite communications to the U.S. transportation market," said Al Hansen, president and COO, EMS Technologies. "Our terminals already are being used by trucking companies in Canada, where it has been available since March of 2000. With the FCC ruling, we now can market our affordable fleet management system in the United States. We are currently in the process of establishing a dedicated sales force within our SATCOM division to pursue this promising market."
This launch further paves the way for EMS Technologies to capitalize on specialized applications for remote data acquisition, messaging as well as high-level asset tracking. The PDT-100 can act as the conduit for virtually any critical data providing instantaneous feedback, be it for transportation, tank level monitoring, or alarm system monitoring.
EMS packet-data terminals are now available to customers through TMI Communications' service providers: ARINC Incorporated; Eaton Corporation, Trucking Electronic Systems Division; Glentel Inc; Government Telecommunications & Informatics Services (GTIS); Infosat Telecommunications; National Systems and Research; SatCom Systems Incorporated; Seimac; SOLA Communications, Inc; Telecomunicaciones Globalsat (Venezuela); and Wireless Matrix Corporation.
About EMS Technologies
EMS Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator in
the design and manufacture of space and terrestrial wireless
solutions, focusing its unique range of advanced technologies on the
needs of broadband and mobile information users. The company is
headquartered in Atlanta, employs almost 2,000 people worldwide, and
has major manufacturing facilities in Atlanta, Ottawa and Montreal.
The company's diverse businesses include the Space and Technologies
Group, the SATCOM and Wireless divisions, and its wholly owned
subsidiary, LXE Inc.
For more information, visit the company
on the World Wide Web at www.ems-t.com
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