Orbcomm, a US based global provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions, announced that Mahd Telecom, its Muscat-based service provider partner for Oman and other GCC countries, has been granted regulatory approval to provide the company’s services in the sultanate.
Issuance of the service authorisation allows for installation of a new Orbcomm Gateway Earth Station (GES) in Oman and completion of the radio spectrum licensing process. Installation of the service will greatly help the oil and gas sector as well as address several under-served markets such as fleet container tracking and many new projects focused around the maritime industry not only in Oman, but also throughout the region.
In addition, Orbcomm has signed an agreement to purchase its GES located near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from its local service partner, completing the company’s ownership consolidation of all Western hemisphere GES facilities.
The Oman and Brazil GESs, together with 14 other strategically-placed Orbcomm GES facilities located throughout the world, connect the company’s satellite constellation to its ground-based network infrastructure.
In addition to providing links to its fleet of first generation satellites, Orbcomm’s global network of GES facilities will also enable it to deliver the advanced services provided by its recently launched Orbcomm Generation 2 (OG2) satellites, making its M2M communications offerings even more efficient, reliable and globally available.
“With the successful launch of the first OG2 mission and the impending improvements in service, we are focusing on all aspects of our network to deliver the best satellite M2M product in the industry,” said Marc Eisenberg, chief executive officer of Orbcomm.
“The new authorisation and GES installation in Oman will significantly improve service levels in the Middle East region and provide satellite access to a new major market for deployment of Orbcomm solutions. Furthermore, Orbcomm’s purchase of the Brazil GES completes our Western hemisphere GES consolidation programme, bringing increased efficiencies and service reliability enhancements for our customers throughout the Americas, the Atlantic Ocean, and even parts of Africa.
“We have been following Orbcomm’s growing momentum with great excitement and are pleased to have the ability to help bring the company’s products and services to the GCC and broader Middle East region,” said a representative from Mahd Telecom.
“We believe that given Mahd Telecom’s understanding of the local customer base and Orbcomm’s broad range of M2M offerings we will be able to offer new products and services to the oil and gas sector as well as markets such as refrigerated and dry fleet container tracking and new projects in the maritime industry not only in Oman, but also throughout the region.”
Orbcomm expects to continue to expand its global communications network through its ongoing efforts to open new markets in additional countries and the construction of additional GESs in key locations to serve these new markets.
