[Satellite Today 10-03-08] The U.S. Coast Guard has selected Orbcomm‘s high-usage option for Automatic Identification System (AIS) data from the AIS concept demonstration satellite, Orbcomm announced Oct. 3.
    Under the terms of the new agreement, it will modify the AIS satellite and ground software while providing additional technical support to the U.S. Coast Guard. Over the next 12 months, this new agreement adds $500,000 to the Coast Guard’s previous contract with Orbcomm, increasing the total value of the deal to more than $8 million.
    "We expect to further expand our AIS offering, including service from all six AIS enabled satellites, to the U.S. government as well as international governments and global commercial customers," Orbcomm CEO Marc Eisenberg said in a statement.