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April 2012www.marinelink.com 79simply dont work today. Ship owners are under im- mense pressure to reduce overall operating costs while maintaining crew morale, and because of this, were seeing high demand for affordable, high-value voice and data services. Iridium has always been the leader in providing high-value, low-cost maritime communications and, since 2008, broadband solu-tions. Were continually investing in product devel- opment, our satellite network and our partners who meet the needs of the various industry stakeholders we serve. Iridium Pilot is the latest example of Irid- iums long-term commitment to improving the cus- tomer experience and satisfying communications needs in the farthest reaches of the world. How is Iridium investing today? DeschOur partners are critical to our success. They are using our technology to create smart, exciting new devices and solutions, so we continue to sup- port them in any way we can. Our team also contin- ues to innovate by offering enhanced products, and even product-less solutions such as waveforms, from which we will be able to develop unmatched communications tools for the maritime market. But our ultimate obligation as a leading commu- nication company is to meet the growing expecta- tion of connectivity. One of the biggest innovations and investments were making today is the creation of our next-generation satellite constellation, Irid- ium NEXT. Were making our unrivaled network more accessible than ever so that it gets easier to connect and communicate on an ongoing basis. Iridium NEXT is the worlds most significant commercial space program underway. We have a fully funded plan to build it and are well along in the development. The system is on track for its planned launch in 2015. What do you see on the regulation front that could be a boon for your industry? DeschSafety at sea regulations related to LRIT and SSAS, as well as the modernization of GMDSS ande-Navigation, continue to introduce new customers to Iridium. Solutions based on our network are cost effective, reliable, and there are no compromises in coverage ? for example, were the only communi- cations service that provides connectivity in the Arc- tic regions. We not only keep mariners connected, we help ensure vessel monitoring regulations are met in real-time, efficiently and effectively. Fishing and eLogbook regulations play well into the Iridium product and services portfolio in the same way, from the fisheries management standpoint as well as for man-overboard tools for fishermen. Iridium also is playing an important role in the bat-tle against pirates disrupting trade. One of the Best Management Practices published by the IMO forshipping companies and ship masters sailing in thedanger zone is to establish a citadel? ? a hardenedsafe room below decks where crews can take refuge if pirates seize control of a ship. The citadel design calls for a reliable, secure communication link thecrew can use from inside to communicate with forces coming to rescue. It needs to be a secure, stand-alone communication system, connected to anantenna and with cabling that pirates cannot disable.Iridium has become the preferred communicationmedium for this purpose, thanks to our reach, relia-bility and real-time voice service, as well as low-la- tency GPS tracking. In the same way, Iridium is ideal for overall search and rescue (SAR) scenarios, providing a service that enables everything from medevac and vessel track- ing, handheld satellite phones offering services such as SOS buttons and geo-fencing capabilities, and in- creasingly smaller, more feature-rich embedded de- vices for a myriad of partner handheld personallocation products used at sea such as the DeLormeinReach and the Briartek Cerberus. We also see growth in the use of Iridium in oceanology applica- tions such as the early tsunami warning system along the Pacific Coast of the U.S. What do you see on the regulation front that could give cause for concern to the SatCom industry? DeschI dont really see as much that is concerning as I see opportunities. One of the hot areas in regu- lation is the reuse of satellite spectrum for terrestrialuse ? to basically create value out of satellite spec- trum. Were not interested in that ? we see great value in using our spectrum in our business and dont need to lease it to others for cash. Of interest to the maritime industry, of course, is the requirement for organizations to meet growing regulatory safety and security standards around the globe. Ships in distress rely on mobile satellite voice and data services. Many Iridium value-added manufacturer partners are approved to meet IMO standards for SSAS service. In addition, the IMOs requirements for LRIT of vessels address SOLAS issues but require truly global, pole-to-pole satellite service including one that works on shipping routes in Polar Regions. Iridium meets all requirements for serving as an LRIT communications serviceprovider for location reporting, asset status updates, operator safety information, weather data, text mes- sages and email. The IMOs efforts to expand reli- ability for Worldwide Navigational Warnings for the Arctic Region is a clear opportunity for Iridium, the only network providing complete coverage over Sea Area A4 (above 70 degrees latitude) and we feel we meet those requirements. Finally, we continue to Charles Darwin once said: or that matter), those who learned to collaborate and impro- pretty much boils down my management philosophy.
