Harris, ExactEarth Form Strategic Alliance To Offer New Advanced Data Services

(RTTNews) - Harris Corp.(HRS) and exactEarth have formed a strategic alliance to offer new advanced data services that will help track maritime vessels faster and more accurately than ever before.

The automatic identification system (AIS) services will, for the first time, provide constant, real-time, global coverage — enabling customers to reliably track the location of vessels anywhere in the world. This helps improve efficiency, safety and security.

According to the company, the services take advantage of exactEarth's proven and patented signal de-collision detection technology and Harris' expertise in satellite hosted payloads, advanced radio frequency communications, and satellite antenna solutions. The services are made possible by a sensor that is based on Harris' AppSTAR reconfigurable payload technology and hosted on the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation — which will have 66 satellites to greatly expand global maritime traffic coverage versus the eight satellites used today.

New AIS-based data products and services are expected to be available in 2017, once the Iridium NEXT satellites are on orbit. Harris becomes the exclusive provider to the U.S. government of AIS products and services produced under the alliance, including exactEarth's exactAIS product portfolio, while exactEarth serves all other global markets.