EMS Enters U.S. Transportation Tracking Market


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	EMS Enters U.S. Transportation Tracking Market By Stew Magnuson Spacenews.com Staff Writer posted: 04:47 pm ET 04 January 2001

WASHINGTON — EMS Technologies [ELMG] is poised to enter the U

WASHINGTON — EMS Technologies [ELMG] is poised to enter the U.S. market for satellite-based mobile data terminals now that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has licensed its technology, company officials said Jan. 4.

Mobile data terminals provide two-way links to trucks, trains and boats via satellite. Incorporating data from the U.S. Global Positioning System, the terminals can transmit information on a vehicle’s location, condition and fuel supplies.

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EMS Technologies

The EMS system also can send and receive messages for the driver.

Among EMS’ competitors in the mobile data communications market are: Dulles, Virginia-based Orbcomm; San Diego-based Qualcomm Inc. [QCOM]; Norcomm Corp., Grass Valley, California and Motient Corp. [MTNT], Reston, Virginia.

The FCC initially held off on the license because of concerns that the signal for EMS’ new PDT-100 terminal unit would interfere with certain communications services using frequencies in the L-band portion of the radio spectrum. The agency had reserved the frequencies for an as yet unused aviation system, Gary Hebb, vice president of engineering and business for EMS’ Ottawa-based Satcom unit, said.

EMS’ system, which, began service in Canada in March 2000, is designed to operate exclusively on the MSAT 1 satellite owned by TMI Communications, Ottawa. EMS has sold 400 units in Canada, Jay McMillian, vice president of sales and marketing at the company’s Satcom division, told Spacenews.com.

While EMS initially will target the U.S. trucking industry, the applications for the technology are "virtually endless," McMillian said.

There are over 77 million large trucks in the United States, and less than 1 percent of those have data links to satellites, McMillian said. In addition, the technology can be applied to smaller delivery trucks, recreational boaters, trains and military vehicles, he said.