RBC Signals teams up with Inmarsat to boost Internet of Things connectivity

Redmond-based RBC Signals has made a strategic agreement with one of the world’s biggest satellite operators, Inmarsat, to put more networking firepower into its range of Internet of Things applications for enterprise customers.

The agreement, announced today in conjunction with the World Satellite Business Week conference in Paris, pairs Inmarsat’s worldwide ELERA and Global Xpress satellite networks with RBC Signals’ ground-based infrastructure for applications that include oil and gas, maritime traffic management, agriculture and utilities.

RBC Signals will be able to scale its use of Inmarsat’s connectivity dynamically to match shifting needs for spectrum, power levels and geographical reach. Internet of Things applications, and particularly industrial IoT applications, are a “significant growth area for RBC Signals,” company founder and CEO Christopher Richins said in a news release.

“Companies are increasingly demanding innovative connected products and services, especially around the Internet ofThings,” Richins said. “These products and solutions must have global reach to perform optimally, and satellite connectivity is essential to meet the needs of enterprises with assets beyond the reach of terrestrial fixed and mobile networks.”

Mike Carter, president of Inmarsat Enterprise, agreed that the Internet of Things is transforming how businesses and industries operate.

“The positive impact of IoT depends on reliable, secure and scalable global connectivity, which is where Inmarsat’s experience, expertise and technology come into their own,” Carter said. “Our new agreement with RBC Signals will allow more businesses to benefit from the efficiency, productivity and sustainability gains IoT enables.”

RBC Signals takes advantage of a global network of company-owned and partner-owned ground stations to deliver dynamic satellite connectivity solutions. In April, RBC Signals closed on a $1.2 million equity funding round aimed at enabling the six-year-old startup to meet the growing demand for ground station services.