SSI-INMARSAT PROVIDING EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE MONTE CARLO RALLY
MONTE CARLO RALLY SAFETY SECURED BY SATELLITES
Race commissaires used IsatPhone 2s from Inmarsat and SSI-Monaco
5 February 2021
The 89th running of the Monte Carlo rally from 21 to 24 of January 2021, won by Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia in their Toyota Yaris, saw driver safety enhanced by SSI-Monaco and Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications.
Inmarsat IsatPhone 2s delivered emergency communications for the race commissaires from the Automobile Club of Monaco, who manage the rally. This satellite telephone service from SSI-Monaco and Inmarsat enabled the officials to be connected anywhere, at all times.
“The determining factor in the Monte Carlo rally organisers choosing Inmarsat and SSI-Monaco was the reliability of the services, which are critical for this event and the ability of the safety teams to be connected at all times across the race route to safeguard the competitors,” said Todd McDonell, president of Inmarsat Global Government. “Inmarsat was honoured to be selected for this role with our partner SSI-Monaco and it continues to demonstrate the flexibility of our services through the sheer variety of activities that rely on ubiquitous, reliable satellite connectivity that we deliver worldwide.”
The rally route took in several parts of the south of France as well as the principality of Monaco. The use of satellite phones ensured that connectivity was never in question in both isolated rural areas as well as urban locations where large numbers of mobile phone users could restrict mobile phone network accessibility.
“During the Monte Carlo Rally, the communication of the Rally organisers and the race controllers for the safety of the race is crucial, especially in the mountainous areas where other types of communications are almost non-existent,” emphasised SSI-Monaco’s President & CEO, Dr. Ilhami Aygun. “The reliability of Inmarsat services and IsatPhone 2s, even in the most challenging conditions, play a key role in the smooth running of the race. We are proud to partner with the Automobile Club of Monaco to provide safety communications via Inmarsat.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The 89th Monte-Carlo Rally was the opening round of the 2021 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Since 2014, it has been organised around Gap (Hautes-Alpes) – Sebastien Ogier’s birthplace – as well as in the neighbouring departments of Alpes de Haute-Provence, Drôme and Isère. More than 85 per cent of the route has been changed this year to pose a fresh challenge to the drivers and the resulting 2021 programme is a brand new mix of tests, alternating classic stages and new routes. The Organising Committee at the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) played a major role in this new approach and the grand finale took place, as always, in the Alpes-Maritimes. Then the event will conclude with a celebration at the Prize Ceremony in Monte-Carlo, for the 110th anniversary of the oldest rally in the world. Images are available here.
Contacts
Media Enquiries:
Jonathan Sinnatt/Matthew Knowles
Corporate Communications
Tel: +44 (0)20 7728 1518/1355
Bars Aygun
Manager Inmarsat Systems at SSI-Monaco
Tel: +377 99 99 90 90
About SSI Monaco
SSI-Monaco (Space Systems International – Monaco S.A.M.) is an integrated satellite telecommunications service provider, formed in 2004 by a team of international experts and consultants.
SSI-Monaco in conjunction with Thales Alenia Space-France built its first telecommunication satellite, Monacosat-1, which was launched on the 27th of April 2015 by SpaceX. Monacosat-1 holds the 52°East Monaco State orbiting position. The satellites powerful signal strength enables services such as internet (VSAT), DTH television (HD) and IPTV with high-speed data rates. For more about SSI-Monaco visit our website at http://ssi-monaco.com.
As an official partner of Inmarsat, SSI-Monaco offers all Inmarsat Global Government products and services, complementing its fixed satellite services portfolio by offering global mobile communications. This powerful partnership with Inmarsat enables SSI-Monaco to sell complete land, maritime and aviation solutions.
ABOUT INMARSAT
Inmarsat is the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications. It owns and operates the world’s most diverse global portfolio of mobile telecommunications satellite networks, and holds a multi-layered, global spectrum portfolio, covering L-band, Ka-band and S-band, enabling unparalleled breadth and diversity in the solutions it provides. Inmarsat’s long-established global distribution network includes not only the world’s leading channel partners but also its own strong direct retail capabilities, enabling end to end customer service assurance.
The company has an unrivalled track record of operating the world’s most reliable global mobile satellite telecommunications networks, sustaining business and mission critical safety & operational applications for more than 40 years. It is also a major driving force behind technological innovation in mobile satellite communications, sustaining its leadership through a substantial investment and a powerful network of technology and manufacturing partners.
Inmarsat operates across a diversified portfolio of sectors with the financial resources to fund its business strategy and holds leading positions in the Maritime, Government, Aviation and Enterprise satcoms markets, operating consistently as a trusted, responsive and high-quality partner to its customers across the globe.
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