Iridium’s Scott Scheimreif: Small-Form-Factor Antennas With Broadband Connectivity to Back Mission-Critical Comms

Scott Scheimreif, executive vice president of government programs at Iridium Communications, has said he believes there will be an increased demand for small-form-factor antennas with agile broadband connectivity that work to support mobile communications during public safety and humanitarians missions.

Scheimreif told MilsatMagazine in an interview how several relief organizations communicated through Iridium’s push-to-talk service in order to carry out rescue missions and coordinate resources during Hurricane Maria.

He said the network saw a 3,900 percent rise in the use of the company’s PTT service in Puerto Rico last year during Hurricane Maria.

Scheimreif said the Iridium Certus broadband service powered by the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation will work to provide new capabilities to industry and deliver mobile communications support to warfighters deployed in high-risk combat environments.