Global comms partnership boosts remote worker connectivity

Guardian Angel Security has signed a distribution agreement for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands with US-based EVERYWHERE Communications for the latter’s global product suite for communication, location and monitoring solutions for remote workers. Its Guardian EVERYWHERE Hub — for secure 24/7 communication, monitoring and local response coordination for remote workers — incorporates dual-mode cellular and satellite communications technology solutions from EVERYWHERE Communications. As part of the distribution agreement, Guardian Angel Security will use the global suite of product solutions from EVERYWHERE Communications, including satellite devices, smartphone apps, a web portal, location-based services and APIs using patented deployed technology.

Guardian Angel Security founder and CEO Petra Hakansson said EVERYWHERE Communications’ technology will enable customers in Australia and New Zealand to track and communicate with their teams deployed around the globe. “Our mission is to deliver unrivalled safety for our enterprise and government customers,” Hakansson said. “The Guardian EVERYWHERE Hub ensures people are always connected, anywhere. Garmin inReach devices connected via our Hub enable SOS, two-way messaging, welfare checks, breadcrumb tracking and geofencing, using satellite, cellular, SMS or Wi-Fi in the most efficient manner to ensure no black spots.” The Guardian EVERYWHERE Hub, compatible with the Garmin inReach Mini, SE+ and Explorer+ devices, allows users to view a snapshot of their entire remote workforce.

Colour-coded teams enable users to see the current location of each member, or see a historical breadcrumb trail. Remote workers can communicate via a chat-style text messaging interface or voice text. Workers with equipped devices can also share geotagged pictures, video clips and audio clips. Users can also create a virtual geofenced perimeter to surround key worksites for the safe management of personnel in specific zones, and entry and exit alerts can be sent to preselected recipients. “We’re excited Guardian Angel Security are using our vital communications, location and monitoring systems to save lives in Australia and New Zealand,” EVERYWHERE Communications founder and CEO Patrick Shay said. “Our solutions are trusted by leading enterprise and government customers deployed in over 80 countries around the world.”

EVERYWHERE Communications’ fully integrated, multimode communications solutions utilise the Iridium satellite constellation, including the Iridium NEXT satellites, as well as Wi-Fi and cellular networks to provide always-on connectivity globally. The Guardian EVERYWHERE Hub links customers in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Cook Islands to its response software, at its audited monitoring stations in New Zealand and Australia. Hakansson, who founded Guardian Angel Security in 2014, said the company takes its role seriously as it works to improve connectivity and productivity for people and assets, while supporting remote worker safety and duty of care.

“Having the right safety solutions in place for mobile and remote workers isn’t just about compliance — safety is all about planning for unforeseen situations and ensuring immediate response if required,” Hakansson said. Recent health and safety law changes in Australia and New Zealand and other countries have impacted a range of organisations with remote and mobile workers, including government agencies, regional councils and environmental organisations, Guardian Angel Security stated. Hakansson added: “We’re seeing a trend across these organisations towards wanting a lone worker safety specialist to keep remote workers connected and safe — recognising that it requires a different approach to traditional security companies who provide other types of security services.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Uzhursky