Improves network performance and availability and increases
coverage at higher latitudes for its global M2M and AIS customers
ROCHELLE PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 1, 2016--
ORBCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq:ORBC), a global provider of Machine-to-Machine
(M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, today announced it has
launched commercial service for its final 11 second generation OG2
satellites. ORBCOMM’s advanced OG2 satellites are providing both M2M
messaging and Automatic
Identification System (AIS) service for its global customers.
ORBCOMM successfully launched the 11 OG2 satellites on December 21,
2015, aboard a dedicated SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station, FL.
After comprehensive in-orbit testing, the 11 OG2 satellites are spaced
within three separate drift orbit planes, and the OG2 satellite fleet is
now processing over 60% of the network’s M2M traffic. Drifting will
continue until all 11 OG2 satellites are in proper phase. Initial
testing verified proper satellite bus functionality, including antenna
and solar array deployments, power systems, attitude control, propulsion
and flight software. Subsequent testing focused on communications and
network system performance. All of these tests were successfully
completed well ahead of schedule, allowing for commercial service to
begin earlier than expected. With the addition of the OG2 satellites,
ORBCOMM is now collecting over 18 million AIS messages from
approximately 150,000 unique vessels per day, surpassing all other AIS
networks in service quality.
“This mission has gone smoothly and efficiently, which is a testament to
the hard work and dedication of both ORBCOMM and its vendors,” said John
Stolte, ORBCOMM’s Executive Vice President of Technology & Operations.
“The satellites are operating extremely well, and we have already
received positive feedback from our customers around the world, who are
experiencing significantly improved service and faster message delivery.”
“Our fully deployed OG2 satellites not only translate into a higher
level of service and reliability for our customers, but also more
opportunities through our expanded global coverage, increased market
reach and the new applications we can support,” said Marc Eisenberg,
Chief Executive Officer of ORBCOMM. “The performance and availability of
our enhanced satellite constellation has exceeded our expectations, and
we are proud to provide our customers with the only fully funded, fully
operational, second generation satellite network purpose-built for the
global M2M industry.”
The OG2 satellites are fully backwards compatible with ORBCOMM’s
existing OG1 satellites. ORBCOMM’s customers do not need to change or
upgrade their fielded devices and are now seamlessly using the full
constellation of OG2 satellites to send and receive messages for their
applications with their existing platforms.
About ORBCOMM Inc.
ORBCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq: ORBC) is a leading global provider of Machine-to-Machine
(M2M) communication solutions and the only commercial satellite
network dedicated to M2M. ORBCOMM’s unique combination of global
satellite, cellular and dual-mode network connectivity, hardware, web
reporting applications and software is the M2M industry’s most complete
service offering. Our solutions are designed to remotely track, monitor,
and control fixed and mobile assets in core vertical markets including
transportation & distribution, heavy equipment, industrial fixed assets,
oil & gas, maritime, mining and government.
With nearly 20 years of innovation and expertise in M2M, ORBCOMM has
more than 1.3 million subscribers with a diverse customer base including
premier OEMs such as Caterpillar Inc., Doosan Infracore America, Hitachi
Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., John Deere, Komatsu Ltd., and Volvo
Construction Equipment, as well as end-to-end solutions customers such
as C&S Wholesale, Canadian National Railways, CR England, Hub Group,
KLLM Transport Services, Marten Transport, Swift Transportation, Target,
Tropicana, Tyson Foods, Walmart and Werner Enterprises. For more
information, visit www.orbcomm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements discussed in this press release constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements
generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for future
events and include statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans,
objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not
historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including those
concerning the Company’s expectations, are subject to known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from the results, projected, expected or implied by the
forward-looking statements, some of which are beyond the Company’s
control, that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or
achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. In addition, specific consideration should
be given to various factors described in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”
and Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and other documents,
on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking
statements or cautionary factors, except as required by law.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160301006100/en/
Source: ORBCOMM Inc.
Investor Inquiries:
Michelle Ferris, 703-433-6516
Director
of Corporate Communications
ferris.michelle@orbcomm.com
or
Financial
and Trade Media:
The Abernathy MacGregor Group
Chuck
Burgess, 212-371-5999
President
clb@abmac.com