Globalstar and Echo Ridge Offer to Demonstrate GPS Backup Technology to Department of Transportation

Globalstar, Inc. of Covington, LA (NYSE American: GSAT) and Echo Ridge, LLC of Sterling, VA have informed the U.S. Department of Transportation that the companies have developed and are prepared to participate in and support a live field demonstration of a stand-alone positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capability that can provide accurate and reliable PNT services to backup and/or complement GPS in case of GPS unavailability or unreliability. The companies responded on June 3 to a DOT announcement and request for information regarding DOT’s plans to conduct a field demonstration of technologies capable of providing backup and/or complementary PNT in the event of a temporary disruption to GPS. Globalstar and Echo Ridge informed the DOT that all required elements are available now for demonstration of a backup system that provides diversity of frequency, constellation, and signal to the existing GPS system, as well as independent ground and management infrastructure.

The Globalstar-Echo Ridge system is based on new Augmented Positioning System (APS) technology that uses ordinary signals from communications satellites (not special positioning/navigation signals, such as GPS) to produce accurate position and timing information in compatible user devices. No new infrastructure is needed; Globalstar’s constellation of 24 low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites and Echo Ridge software and compatible devices at the user end provide the building blocks for the APS-based system. APS technology has been successfully demonstrated in diverse environments and incorporates multiple features that boost availability and reliability to produce accurate PNT information under circumstances that can challenge or disable GPS/GNSS technology. The technology can work independently of GPS and other global navigation satellite systems and is designed to maintain high performance in a wide range of operating environments.

The proposed system responds to increasing user concerns about GPS vulnerability and the critical importance of accurate PNT information to support essential services and infrastructure.

“The Department of Transportation, coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense, has recognized the need to ensure that reliable PNT information remains available to support U.S. critical infrastructure, even in case of GPS interruption,” said Joe Kennedy, President of Echo Ridge. “Globalstar and Echo Ridge are pleased to be able to offer to DOT a demonstration of our unique, independent assured PNT technology that can provide a dependable backup and/or complement to GPS.”

About Globalstar
Globalstar, Inc. is a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to individuals, governments, and businesses in industries such as emergency management, marine, logging, oil & gas and outdoor recreation. Globalstar products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, the Sat-Fi satellite hotspot, Simplex and Duplex satellite data modems, tracking devices and service packages. Globalstar’s two-way duplex, one-way simplex and SPOT products transmit more than 1.3 billion messages a year. The company’s network of 24 satellites covers over 80% of the Earth’s surface and uses a modern W-CDMA air interface. In 2018, the company launched its Globalstar Automotive division to support future connected and autonomous vehicles and intelligent transportation systems by assisting automotive OEMs and other ecosystem partners to implement connectivity solutions for vehicles and critical transportation infrastructure.

About Echo Ridge
Echo Ridge, LLC is a Northern Virginia small business that provides RF-focused product development, including intellectual property development, to the Government and commercial marketplace through hardware and software design and production, and signal processing algorithm development. Echo Ridge develops, produces, and sells advanced devices/systems for Positioning/Navigation/Timing (PNT), Electronic Warfare (EW), and high-fidelity laboratory modeling, simulation and testing. Echo Ridge PNT products employ proprietary alternate navigation technology to provide assured navigation in GPS-unavailable environments. The company’s management and engineering team members have extensive experience and expertise in PNT, and have contributed to the development and commercialization of multiple PNT technologies and systems, including the industry-leading Geometrix® product line of E911 wireless caller location systems deployed nationwide by U.S. carriers.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190613005429/en/