It is designed to show how communities with as few as 21 people can support a mobile system — something that is not economically possible with the GSM systems typical in western Europe.
The Altobridge product is being tested by employees working at Australia’s Casey station in the South Pole, one of three permanent scientific research stations located in Australian Antarctic territory. It is designed to keep them in contact with their Hobart headquarters and provide link-ups which allow them make ordinary calls through the regular international phone system.
Mike Fitzgerald, Altobridge’s chief executive, said that with this “remote location” active, plans for the full roll-out of Altobridge are complete. “It means you can take your Irish GSM mobile out to Antarctica and have complete freedom for roaming. The Antarctic exercise will also give information such as radio frequency penetration,” he added. The system can be set up, and maintained, remotely.
Fitzgerald estimates there are about 1m remote communities across the globe that have yet to be provided with basic communications capability. Altobridge has a wireless/satellite architecture that can bridge this communications divide immediately.