SkyWave Mobile Communications

SkyWave Mobile Communications is a Canadian industrial communications brand founded in Ottawa in 1997. It developed satellite and hybrid satellite-cellular terminals and services for machine-to-machine, or M2M, communications. Rather than serving consumer mobile users, SkyWave focuses on connecting assets that operate beyond dependable terrestrial network coverage, including trucks, trailers, containers, ships, fishing vessels, mining equipment, oil and gas infrastructure, utility systems, emergency fleets, and government vehicles. The company’s technology is built around low-data-rate satellite communications. Its terminals can transmit location, sensor, status, and control information from remote or mobile equipment to enterprise applications. Typical use cases include fleet tracking, theft prevention, trailer and container monitoring, vessel identification and security, oil and gas measurement, pipeline and valve supervision, water-quality monitoring, remote pump control, and emergency-response coordination. SkyWave sells primarily through solution providers, which incorporate its hardware and connectivity into industry-specific monitoring and management systems. SkyWave initially relied on research and technical expertise from Communications Research Centre Canada and support from local government funding programs while developing its first product. Its products subsequently found applications in several geographically challenging environments, including vehicle tracking in Brazil, maritime racing, Pacific tuna-buoy monitoring, drinking-water control in the United Kingdom, and satellite services for government agencies and vessels. These deployments illustrate the brand’s central proposition: dependable low-bandwidth communications for assets located outside ordinary cellular coverage. In April 2009, Inmarsat acquired a 19 percent stake in SkyWave as part of an effort to expand its position in the satellite low-data-rate market. SkyWave used the investment to acquire GlobalWave and increase its scale. The relationship also connected SkyWave’s products with Inmarsat’s global satellite infrastructure. The company later expanded its portfolio with products compatible with both GPS and Russia’s GLONASS navigation system, helping support positioning applications in the Russian market. A major product and service milestone came in August 2011 with the launch of IsatData Pro, a two-way low-data-rate service for managing remote assets worldwide. It supported messages to and from terminals, enabling telemetry, remote-worker text messaging, driver-log updates, and remote control of fixed equipment. In 2012, SkyWave introduced IP SCADA for its IDP terminal family, allowing small remote sites to establish point-to-point satellite links with supervisory control and data acquisition systems where terrestrial communications were unavailable, unreliable, or too costly. ORBCOMM completed its acquisition of SkyWave in early January 2015. Following the acquisition, SkyWave became part of ORBCOMM’s broader industrial Internet of Things and satellite-connectivity business. The company was reported to be based in Ottawa’s technology district, west of Kanata, with more than 180 employees and more than 600,000 satellite terminals designed, manufactured, and shipped. Its product families include IsatData Pro and IDP terminals, hybrid satellite-cellular equipment, and DMR-800 terminals for maritime, hazardous-location, SCADA, and other specialized applications.

SkyWave Mobile Communications was established in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1997 to develop satellite-based communications for machine-to-machine applications. In its formative period, the company drew on research and technical expertise from Communications Research Centre Canada and on local government funding programs. Its early work addressed the practical problem of communicating with vehicles, vessels, industrial machinery, and fixed installations located beyond reliable cellular or wired-network coverage. The company’s business developed around low-data-rate satellite terminals and related services. SkyWave equipment could send position reports, sensor readings, alarms, and control commands to enterprise systems. This made the technology useful in fleet management, theft prevention, maritime security, mining, oil and gas, utilities, water infrastructure, emergency management, and defence-related operations. Reported deployments included monitoring government ships and trucks in the United States, tracking vehicles in Brazil, monitoring Pacific tuna buoys, supporting oil and gas operations in North America, and supervising drinking-water systems in the United Kingdom. SkyWave terminals were also used in maritime races and offshore sailing events, demonstrating their ability to provide tracking in open-water environments. On April 1, 2009, Inmarsat acquired a 19 percent interest in SkyWave. The investment was intended to strengthen Inmarsat’s participation in the satellite low-data-rate market and provided SkyWave with resources for expansion. SkyWave used the funds to acquire GlobalWave, a transaction that reportedly doubled the company’s size. The partnership also reinforced SkyWave’s access to Inmarsat’s global satellite service, which became the communications foundation for many of its products. SkyWave continued to adapt its hardware to regional and specialized requirements. In December 2009, it introduced a GLONASS-compatible version of the DMR-800L terminal for the Russian market. The terminal could use GLONASS and GPS independently or together to determine an asset’s location. In August 2011, the company launched IsatData Pro, a two-way low-data-rate service designed to manage remote assets around the world. The service supported messages to terminals and from terminals, enabling vehicle telemetry, worker messaging, driver-log maintenance, and remote management of fixed equipment. In 2012, SkyWave added IP SCADA for its IDP terminal family. The service provided satellite-based point-to-point IP links between remote installations and SCADA systems, addressing sites where terrestrial communications were unavailable, unreliable, or uneconomical. This extended SkyWave’s role from simple tracking into industrial monitoring and control, particularly for oil and gas equipment, pumps, valves, environmental systems, utilities, and other distributed infrastructure. The company’s terminal portfolio included IDP 800 devices for trailers, containers, vehicles, and vessels; IDP 700 hybrid terminals combining satellite and cellular connectivity; IDP 600 equipment for fixed and mobile assets; and IDP 100 embedded modems for integration into larger systems. Its IsatM2M portfolio included the dual-mode SureLinx 8100 family and several DMR-800 variants, including maritime, hazardous-location, OEM, and Long Range Identification and Tracking models. ORBCOMM completed its acquisition of SkyWave in early January 2015. SkyWave subsequently operated within ORBCOMM’s broader industrial connectivity portfolio. The company was described as being located in Ottawa’s technology district near Kanata, employing more than 180 people and having designed, manufactured, and shipped more than 600,000 satellite terminals. Its technology remained focused on industrial customers and solution providers rather than direct-to-consumer telecommunications.

• 2015

  ORBCOMM acquisition completed

  [1]SkyWave Mobile Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  ORBCOMM completes its acquisition of SkyWave in early January, integrating the company into its industrial communications business.

• 2012

  IP SCADA is introduced

  [1]SkyWave Mobile Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  SkyWave introduces IP SCADA connectivity for remote sites using its IDP terminal family.

• 2011

  IsatData Pro launches

  [1]SkyWave Mobile Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  SkyWave launches IsatData Pro, a two-way low-data-rate satellite service for remote-asset telemetry, messaging, and control.

• 2009

  Inmarsat takes a minority stake

  [1]SkyWave Mobile Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Inmarsat acquires a 19 percent interest in SkyWave, supporting expansion in the satellite low-data-rate market.

• 2009

  GlobalWave acquisition

  [1]SkyWave Mobile Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  SkyWave uses investment proceeds to acquire GlobalWave and expand its business.

• 2009

  GLONASS-compatible terminal introduced

  [1]SkyWave Mobile Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  SkyWave launches a DMR-800L variant compatible with GLONASS and GPS for the Russian market.

• 1997

  SkyWave is founded in Ottawa

  [1]SkyWave Mobile Communicationsen.wikipedia.org

  SkyWave Mobile Communications is established in Ottawa, Ontario, to develop satellite communications for machine-to-machine and remote-asset applications.

Industrial-grade, low-data-rate satellite and hybrid connectivity for tracking, monitoring, and controlling remote or mobile assets in sectors where terrestrial communications are unavailable or unreliable.

• Satellite connectivity service · 2011

  IsatData Pro

  A two-way low-data-rate satellite service for communicating with remote and mobile assets. It supports telemetry, location reporting, worker messaging, driver-log updates, and remote management or control of equipment. The service is intended for global industrial applications where cellular coverage is incomplete or unavailable.

• Satellite terminal

  IDP 800 Series

  A low-profile terminal family designed for tracking trailers, containers, vehicles, and vessels. Models can use non-rechargeable batteries, rechargeable batteries, or vehicle power, allowing deployment across mobile logistics and transportation assets.

• Hybrid satellite-cellular terminal

  IDP 700 Series

  A dual-mode terminal family combining IsatData Pro satellite communications with cellular connectivity. The equipment can select the available or most cost-effective network according to coverage and service conditions, making it suitable for vehicle and mobile-asset monitoring.

• Satellite terminal

  IDP 600 Series

  Two-way satellite terminals for remote management of fixed and mobile assets. The series includes configurations for low-elevation and maritime applications as well as models certified for hazardous industrial environments.

• Embedded satellite modem

  IDP 100 Series

  Embedded modems designed to be integrated into larger industrial systems. They use the two-way IsatData Pro service to add satellite connectivity to specialized equipment, sensors, and remote monitoring platforms.

• Hybrid satellite-cellular telemetry terminal

  SureLinx 8100 and 8100c

  Dual-mode satellite and GPRS transceivers that switch between cellular and IsatM2M satellite services. The 8100c includes an onboard computer intended for vehicle telemetry applications, supporting monitoring where terrestrial service may be intermittent.

• Satellite transceiver

  DMR-800 Family

  A family of low-data-rate satellite transceivers covering satellite-only, low-power, maritime, OEM, and hazardous-location applications. Variants support sensor integration, remote monitoring, telemetry, and control of unmanned or mobile equipment.

• Maritime satellite terminal

  DMR-800LRIT

  A DMR-800 variant designed for Long Range Identification and Tracking requirements established for ships by the International Maritime Organization. It supports maritime tracking and compliance-oriented vessel communications.

• Industrial satellite networking service · 2012

  IP SCADA

  A satellite-based IP communications service for linking remote sites with supervisory control and data acquisition systems. It is designed for locations where terrestrial communications are unavailable, unreliable, or expensive, including distributed energy, water, oil and gas, and industrial installations.

• 2015

  Acquisition by ORBCOMMM&A

  Background

  SkyWave had built a substantial industrial satellite-terminal business spanning transportation, maritime, energy, utilities, and government applications.

  Action taken

  ORBCOMM completed the acquisition of SkyWave in early January 2015.

  Aftermath

  SkyWave became part of ORBCOMM’s broader industrial Internet of Things and satellite communications operations.

  Source

• 2012

  Expansion into IP-based SCADA connectivityStrategy

  Background

  Industrial sites in remote locations often lacked reliable or affordable terrestrial links to supervisory control and data acquisition systems.

  Action taken

  SkyWave introduced IP SCADA for its IDP terminal family, providing point-to-point satellite connectivity between remote sites and SCADA systems.

  Aftermath

  The move extended the company’s addressable market into industrial control, infrastructure monitoring, and remote equipment management.

  Source

• 2011

  Launch of IsatData ProProduct launch

  Background

  Remote industrial customers required a global communications service capable of exchanging more than basic location beacons with distributed assets.

  Action taken

  SkyWave launched IsatData Pro as a two-way low-data-rate service for telemetry, messaging, asset management, and remote control.

  Aftermath

  The service broadened SkyWave’s proposition from tracking toward interactive management of vehicles, workers, fixed installations, and industrial equipment.

  Source

• 2009

  Use of Inmarsat investment to acquire GlobalWaveM&A

  Background

  Inmarsat acquired a 19 percent stake in SkyWave to expand its position in satellite low-data-rate communications. SkyWave needed additional scale to broaden its product and market presence.

  Action taken

  SkyWave used the investment associated with the Inmarsat transaction to acquire GlobalWave, reportedly doubling its size.

  Aftermath

  The transaction strengthened SkyWave’s position in industrial satellite M2M communications and expanded its relationship with Inmarsat’s global satellite service.

  Source

1. 1SkyWave Mobile Communicationsen.wikipedia.org