- New Gateway to Provide Near Real-Time Messaging and Data Services For Greater Southern African Region -
Fort Lee, NJ, May 6, 2010 – ORBCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq: ORBC), a global satellite data communications company focusing on two-way Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications and leading provider of space-based Automatic Identification System (AIS) services, today announced the commencement of construction of a Gateway Earth Station (GES) in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa. In addition, ORBCOMM signed an agreement with CSIR Satellite Applications Center for the establishment, installation and maintenance operation at the site.
The construction on the GES commenced in early April 2010. This new GES is a terrestrial link to ORBCOMM’s network of low-Earth orbit satellites providing low-cost, near real-time, two-way machine-to-machine (M2M) satellite communications. “The GES in South Africa is filling one of the last remaining key pieces of geography needed for our near ubiquitous coverage. International expansion is a key component of our strategy and future growth at ORBCOMM as it provides our International Value Added Resellers (IVARs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), many of which already have distribution in the southern portions of Africa, a new outlet to provide ORBCOMM enabled services” said Marc Eisenberg, ORBCOMM’s Chief Executive Officer. “It also creates an opportunity for new sales channels with local providers.”
“We are pleased to have been awarded the contract to build the GES for ORBCOMM within South Africa,” said Raoul Hodges, Operations Manager of the CSIR satellite Applications Centre. “We believe the M2M market in South Africa will benefit greatly from having the choice and availability to connect to ORBCOMM’s global constellation of Low Earth Orbit Satellites.”
“The unique attributes of ORBCOMM make it an ideal network for a wide range of M2M applications,” said Christian Allred, Senior Vice President of International at ORBCOMM. “ORBCOMM offers contiguous coverage, which provides an ideal solution for many mobile and fixed applications in South Africa and the surrounding areas, many of which are under-served by terrestrial networks.”
ORBCOMM’s expanding network of ground infrastructure makes it possible for VARs, IVARs and OEMs to develop a product using a single global standard and enjoy world-wide operation with a single airtime agreement and no roaming charges.
About ORBCOMM Inc.
ORBCOMM is a leading global satellite data communications company, focused on Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications. Its customers include Caterpillar Inc., Doosan Infracore America, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Hyundai Heavy Industries, I.D. Systems, Inc., Komatsu Ltd., Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc., and Volvo Construction Equipment among other industry leaders. ORBCOMM is the leading commercial provider of global AIS data from space, with users that include the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and IHS Fairplay, among other government and commercial organizations. By means of a global network of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and accompanying ground infrastructure, ORBCOMM’s low-cost and reliable two-way data communication services track, monitor and control mobile and fixed assets in four core markets: commercial transportation; heavy equipment; industrial fixed assets; and marine/homeland security. ORBCOMM based products are installed on trucks, containers, marine vessels, locomotives, backhoes, pipelines, oil wells, utility meters, storage tanks and other assets. ORBCOMM is headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey and has its network control center in Dulles, Virginia. For more information, visit www.orbcomm.com.
About The CSIR
The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) is one of the leading R&D, technology and innovation institutions in Africa, with a track record spanning over 60 years. Structured to manage the entire research and innovation value chain, the CSIR strives for excellence in all its endeavours in order to improve the quality of life of South Africa’s people and to increase the global competitiveness of South African industry. See www.csir.co.za or contact tel 012-841-2000. The CSIR - our future through science.
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. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the impact of global recession and continued worldwide credit and capital constraints; substantial losses we have incurred and expect to continue to incur; demand for and market acceptance of our products and services and the applications developed by our resellers; loss or decline or slowdown in the growth in business from Asset Intelligence, a subsidiary of I.D. Systems, Inc. (“AI”) (formerly a division of General Electric Company (“GE” or “General Electric”)), other value-added resellers or VARs and international value-added resellers or IVARs; loss or decline or slowdown in growth in business of any of the specific industry sectors the Company serves, such as transportation, heavy equipment, fixed assets and maritime; litigation proceedings; technological changes, pricing pressures and other competitive factors; the inability of our international resellers to develop markets outside the United States; market acceptance and success of our Automatic Identification System (“AIS”) business; the inability to provide AIS service due to the in-orbit satellite failure of the remaining two quick-launch satellites; satellite launch and construction delays and cost overruns of our next-generation satellites; in-orbit satellite failures or reduced performance of our existing satellites; the failure of our system or reductions in levels of service due to technological malfunctions or deficiencies or other events; our inability to renew or expand our satellite constellation; political, legal regulatory, government administrative and economic conditions and developments in the United States and other countries and territories in which we operate; changes in our business strategy; and the other risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For more detail on these and other risks, please see our “Risk Factors” section in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Contacts
Investor Inquiries:
Lucas Binder
VP, Business Development and Investor Relations
ORBCOMM Inc.
703-433-6505
binder.lucas@orbcomm.com
Media Inquiries:
Jennifer Lattif
Senior Account Executive
The Abernathy MacGregor Group
212-371-5999
jcl@abmac.com
