SATELLITES PLAY BIG PART IN POST 9/11 ERA
Satellite companies still are cashing in on post-9/11 fears over terrorism, representatives and executives of several companies told us Wed. as nation marked one-year anniversary of attacks. Satellite communications systems have proved to among best weapons in fight against terrorism when ground systems fail during emergencies or when extra security is needed, officials said. Despite being unable to compete commercially with land-based cellular networks, Globalstar, Iridium, Orbcomm and Qualcomm said they developed GPS tracking and satellite telephone systems that are being used for emergency communication backups and tracking systems with built-in high-tech security features that can help in fight against terrorism. Govt. and military have supported effort in last year by awarding several contracts to companies and closely scrutinizing technological advances, companies said.
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Globalstar and Iridium phones constituted only communication system available to rescue personnel 9/11, Iridium spokesman said: “There has definitely been increase in demand” since attacks. Iridium provided 1,000 phones free to Pentagon and govt. officials in N.Y. within 24-48 hours of attack. It already was working with govt. after signing $72 million Dept. of Defense contract (CD Dec 13/2000 p7), spokesman said: Satellite telephones don’t use “bent-pipe technology” so they have extra security. New phones used by military has “secure sleeve” that fits on telephone that provides “extra level of security,” spokesman said.
Globalstar had “spike in usage” following attacks, “especially in Manhattan, where there were no cellphones” that were usable, spokesman said: “It definitely helped our business.” Rescue workers used “phones for quite some time,” he said. Globalstar has joined Iridium in focusing marketing efforts on niche areas that include govt. and military users in aftermath of attacks. “There was a wave of interest” following 9/11, Globalstar spokesman said, and attacks “caused a lot of people to re-evaluate our business.”
Globalstar has found niche in govt. market by providing service as emergency backup system. Company gives priority access to govt. agencies and its phones were used by rescue workers in Lower Manhattan when attack knocked out primary communication networks, including towers used for cellular and ground traffic. Globalstar phones also were used for secure sites during Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City “up in the mountains where cellular service wasn’t available,” spokesman said. National Communication System has bought several Globalstar phones to use for security.
Globalstar, Iridium and Qualcomm are developing systems for use on airplanes. Globalstar and Qualcomm are marketing system to govt. that can provide live video images of cockpit and cabin to ground personnel. Qualcomm has made several presentations of system to govt. in Washington in recent months, companies said. System is expensive and “government isn’t going to jump at anything,” Globalstar spokesman said. Iridium also is working with Qualcomm to provide in-flight cockpit voice and data monitoring. Video links inside planes could have helped federal officials get detailed information about hijackings, spokesman said.
Qualcomm OmniTRACS service is used primarily for trucks carrying hazardous or valuable cargo, Vp Marc Sands said. He said 350,000 trucks were equipped with OmniTRACS throughout N. America. Military is also using OmniTRACS to track trucks carrying munitions or military cargo. GPS technology also has emergency signaling capacity. Qualcomm has added security features such as automatic tracking, driver authentication, panic button. Remote engine shutdown can prevent truck from operating outside its approved route. Security features could help keep trucks from being hijacked and used as terrorist weapons, Sands said: Unauthorized drivers automatically are locked inside vehicle and it shuts down. He said technology was being expanded to automobiles.
Orbcomm’s data communications service is used with GPS receivers and automated meter reading, company said. Its advantage in security is that its receivers are inconspicuous and inexpensive when compared with OmniTRACS terminals, company said. Orbcomm receivers can be used to monitor and track assets that are potential terrorist targets such as fuel tanker trucks, ships, pipelines, reservoirs. Another potential use is monitoring and inspecting cargo on ships before they reach port, company said.