[Via Satellite 11-19-2015] ViaSat and Cobham Satcom have joined forces to offer new product and service offerings to the Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) market. The companies are starting with the release of a collaborative terminal, the Explorer 122, a compact, vehicle-mount, real-time IP satellite terminal designed to complement the Explorer PTT-2 system for mission-critical voice and data communications.

The new terminal operates over the all-IP ViaSat L-band managed service network, and features a ruggedized terminal design in a small form-factor with omni-directional antenna architecture. The product has no moving parts in order to increase reliability and reduce structure-borne noise heard from inside the vehicle.

The PTT satellite service uses ViaSat’s new L-band waveform over LightSquared‘s Skyterra 1 satellite, allowing for flat rate service plans with commercial encryption. The proprietary Cobham PTT technology allows for the seamless handover of voice calls from cellular-to-satellite, when the terrestrial connection is lost, without interrupting the conversation.

ViaSat and Cobham Satcom’s combined PTT products and service have been specifically designed for public safety, utilities, transportation and fleet management markets. Cobham will continue to exclusively sell the Explorer products while ViaSat will offer the PTT satellite service. The Explorer 122 satellite terminal is scheduled to start shipping early in the first quarter of 2016.