Cobham Enables First Commercial user of MSAT-G3 PTT Service

Alpine, Texas headquartered Big Bend Telephone Company has become the first commercial user of the innovative EXPLORER MSAT-G3 system for the next generation MSAT service covering North America. EXPLORER MSAT-G3 extends communications coverage in the field by combining satellite links and existing cellular based networks with Land Mobile Radio (LMR). This reduces infrastructure costs by removing the need to build and maintain radio repeater sites on the ground, while introducing significantly improved communications availability in any environment, when on the move. It is designed to cost-effectively expand and augment existing LMR Systems.

Cobham and GDS have also provided three EXPLORER MSAT-G3 mobile units for ad-hoc use by Big Bend staff and contractors. Two MSAT-G3 units are being used indoors at dispatch locations. As the MSAT-G3 system is IP-based, GDS connected two units to the customer's LAN, allowing for communication with vehicles in the field without the requirement for satellite connectivity at the office location.

EXPLORER MSAT-G3 looks and feels just like a standard LMR system, utilizing a rugged Push-To-Talk (PTT) Control Speaker Microphone. It can use an extremely powerful magnet system (optional) for securely mounting the electronically steered antenna to a vehicle's roof, with installation taking less than three hours. Uniquely, up to two USB cellular modems (optional) can be connected to the PTT terminal to enable two independent cellular network connections.

In action, EXPLORER MSAT-G3's sophisticated routing functionality automatically switches between the available networks - satellite or cellular - dynamically selecting the most suitable based on quality and availability at any time. This all happens seamlessly without user intervention.

The innovative EXPLORER MSAT-G3 system combines the power of Cobham SATCOM's Push-To-Talk technology, the Ligado Networks SkyTerra 1 satellite and ViaSat's low latency, IP-based L-band Mobile Satellite Services network. EXPLORER MSAT-G3 is also the only system in its class to provide AES-256 encrypted Push-To-Talk voice and associated data over satellite.