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Australian telecommunications company Telstra Corp. recently awarded an eight-year, $3.5 million contract to Beam Communications Pty. Ltd. to supply Iridium®-based satellite equipment for a new interstate communication infrastructure for the Australian Rail Track Corp. The new communication system will provide a single integrated network covering more than 6,000 track miles.

Telstra will integrate the Iridium data service into its network infrastructure, providing satellite interfaces to transmit real-time data to and from locomotives, as well as backup voice channels for emergency communications. Locomotives will be equipped with Beam satellite voice and data terminals, which will be integrated into the trains’ communication systems. Beam also will supply its SatRADIO system for tunnels.