To ensure that those people and pooches remain safe in the Alaskan Iditarod race Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) is teaming with its service partners, SatCom Global and IonEarth, to provide satellite voice and data services. The Iditarod(R) Sled Dog Race, begins March 5 in Anchorage, Alaska.
IonEarth, an Iridium value-added reseller, is equipping each of the Iditarod participating sleds with an Iridium-based lightweight battery-powered GPS tracking device. The device will transmit the sled's location, speed, heading, altitude and air temperature every 15 minutes through the Iridium satellite network.
Iridium service provider SatCom Global is providing Iridium satellite phones, which race officials and the volunteer bush pilots of the "Iditarod Air Force" will use for race safety communications across the Alaskan wilderness. SatCom Global is also ensuring key race personnel, including the race marshal and chief veterinarian, have pagers for communications with their staffs throughout the race.
Iridium touts themselves as the world's farthest reaching mobile voice and data communications provider. They are also a leader in machine-to-machine (M2M) communications in which their clients can track, locate and ensure the safety of their most valuable assets worldwide.
Race fans can view the sleds' position updates transmitted via Iridium 24 hours a day on. The racers themselves will not be able to view the data from the trackers in the field, preserving the tradition of self-sufficiency and independence in competing against each other and fighting the elements.
by Jeff Schultz / AlaskaStock.com Tom Thurston team makes the turn at Cordova Street and 4th avenue in downtown Anchorage, Alaska during the ceremonial start of the 2011 Iditarod
"Safety is our number one priority for the Iditarod, and Iridium is the only satellite system that provides reliable coverage across the entire Iditarod trail," said Stan Hooley, executive director of the Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC). "At many of the checkpoints throughout the trail, we are relying solely on the Iridium tracking devices and phone handsets to provide a critical safety and communications lifeline for the mushers, dogs, medical personnel, media, bush pilots and volunteers who staff the isolated checkpoints along the trail."
"The ITC requires satellite tracking devices as mandatory safety equipment on all sleds competing in the Iditarod," said Jerry Miller, president of IonEarth. "The robustness of the Iridium network is critical in these remote regions where some of the most extreme weather conditions on the planet are experienced."
"Iridium is an important communications utility for thousands of people who live, work and travel in the frontier regions of Alaska," said Teri Petram, regional sales manager, Americas of SatCom Global and Alaska native. "Iridium is often their only link with the outside world."
"For over five years, Iridium and our partners have supported the Iditarod," said Greg Ewert, executive vice president, global distribution channels for Iridium. "We wish all the mushers a safe and successful race as they face this supremely difficult challenge."