An Iceland Spot rescue. Photo: Globalstar.

[Via Satellite 01-25-2016] European Globalstar Spot safety device activations reached 9,800 in 2015 — a new record year for the company. According to Globalstar Europe Satellite Services, activations have increased 71 percent in two years. Excluding rescues handled by Value Added Resellers (VARs) and other third parties, Spot’s SOS feature enabled 41 customer rescues last year in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Globalstar Spot has seen significant growth in the French and U.K. markets, with 360 percent and 74 percent increases in activations respectively since 2013. Spain and Germany also saw very strong growth.

Additionally, in the last year Globalstar has seen increasing interest beyond the market of outdoor enthusiasts, from the Business to Business (B2B) sector as businesses and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) fulfill their duty of care obligations to lone workers. Many emergency services organizations have become Spot customers, as well as recent new customers including Northumbrian Water Group, Spanish firefighters and the Lebanese Red Cross.