EM Solutions wins bid with Japan for KIZUNA-compatible SOTM system

EM Solutions and its Tokyo-based partner, Jepico Corporation, will provide Japan with the Satellite on the Move (SOTM) system, which -in combination with the planned W.I.N.D.S. (KIZUNA) Ka-band communications satellite- can ensure unbroken satellite communications and broadband during disasters.

The two partner companies won a bid with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan’s national research institute on information and communications. Their SOTM system will ensure steady communications with the newest Ka-band broadband satellites (such as KIZUNA) even in the roughest conditions, such as stormy seas or off-road.

More than 21 meters in length with solar panels fully extended and massing 2.7 tons, KIZUNA will be placed at an altitude of approximately 36,000km at the 143 degrees East slot. It will provide super high-speed data communications with download speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps for government organizations, companies, and even private civilian users.

EM Solutions first developed its SOTM technology with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) through the former's links with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO.) According to Dr. Rowan Gilmore, EM Solutions CEO, the ADF asked the DSTO to provide a mounted battle command on-the-move satellite communications system. The end result was a very tough terminal that could maintain vital communications and supply troops with high-quality, broadband information even in the worst driving conditions.

According to Dr. Gilmore, SOTM can be easily mounted on a vehicle, driven to the location of a natural disaster, and deployed to provide a mobile communication facility on site. SOTM can support vital communications during times when everything else breaks down.

The recent Great East Japan earthquakes, aftershocks, and accompanying tsunami disrupted terrestrial communications networks throughout affected regions of Japan. The dearth of communications severely disrupted early-warning, rescue, and relief efforts that relied on those disabled ground stations.

Japan's WINDS OTM system is intended to maintain high-speed broadband communications even when terrestrial networks are down. EM Solution's SOTM platform will be one of many systems that can tap KIZUNA's capacities in order to coordinate disaster relief operations.