Plastimo and Sigfox have joined to provide total geolocation search and rescue capability across all oceans, beginning in 2020. The new service will be supported by data from the ELO nanosatellite constellation operated by Eutelsat, Sigfox's partner. The first two nanosatellites will be operational in 2020.

Plastimo, with more than 50 years expertise designing and manufacturing safety equipment for the boating market, was seeking an innovative solution to quickly and reliably locate seafarers in the ocean. It turned to Sigfox’s 0G network to improve and broaden the application of the digital technologies integrated into its safety equipment.

“Our challenge is to improve safety at sea by using the potential of connected solutions and make our products accessible to as many sailors as possible,” said Frédéric Blaudeau, marketing director at Plastimo.

By partnering with Sigfox, Plastimo will benefit from the future ELO nanosatellite constellation. Beginning next year, the constellation will extend Sigfox's terrestrial connectivity to provide coverage across all oceans globally. ELO will provide the capability to locate a person in a Plastimo life raft or wearing a Plastimo life jacket who is lost at sea or shipwrecked. Existing satellite constellations do not offer this geolocation capability at an affordable price for the boating market.

One of the advantages of the ELO constellation is that it uses the Sigfox protocol, which is already available in more than 65 countries. The life jackets produced by Plastimo will connect to either Sigfox's terrestrial or satellite network. Before the ELO constellation is available, life jackets can be located several tens of kilometers from the coasts of countries with the Sigfox terrestrial network.

Future Plastimo life jackets with Sigfox satellite connectivity can be located in any ocean. The vests will be as comfortable and efficient as other Plastimo designs, and the satellite connectivity will be simple to use and will not require heavy or bulky batteries.

“Based on Sigfox technology, Plastimo is able to differentiate its products for general consumers, while also developing high-end equipment for increasingly demanding professional markets,” said Patrick Cason, managing director of Sigfox France.

“By combining the expertise of our two companies, we can offer the boating industry an integrated, complete and innovative solution." — Frédéric Blaudeau