GPS messenger selected for Sahara marathon

9th March 2015

Globalstar

Siobhan O'Gorman

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A safety device developed by Globalstar Europe Satellite Services, a subsidiary of Globalstar, has been selected for use during the MARATHON DES SABLES 2015 (MDS). The SPOT Gen3 device will track all participants of the marathon as well as in the MDS 2016 and 2017 races. Approximately 1,450 athletes, representing more than 70 nations, will carry the safety device.

MDS, which is now in its 30th year, is a race through the Sahara desert. The rules of MDS require participants to be self-sufficient, carrying everything they need to survive, including all equipment and food, on their backs. Only water and a nightly tent are otherwise provided.

The SPOT Gen3 is a rugged personal GPS messenger that helps users stay connected via satellite, even where there is no GSM signal. With the safety device, MDS race organisers and emergency support services will be able to precisely track each runner’s location in real-time, via the DREAMAP platform. If a racer gets into trouble, with the single press of a button, emergency services will be alerted, his or her GPS coordinates will be transmitted and help will be dispatched to the runner’s location.

Featuring a long battery life, the SPOT Gen3 provides off-the-grid messaging, emergency alerts and extreme GPS tracking,. The SPOT App web-based interface allows users to easily view their SPOT messages, show their track points and monitor people or assets via a smartphone or tablet.

“When we were considering how to provide the best possible support to MDS runners in such an extreme environment as the Sahara, we knew we needed a small device with big capabilities, so we investigated the technology options available,” said Patrick Bauer, CEO, Marathon Des Sables.

“We required a unit that would reliably help us keep track of every runner wherever they were, that would also be a really user-friendly safety device so runners could summon help fast if they needed to.”

“The device we chose had to be tough enough to withstand the extreme heat and conditions of cross-Sahara running, and it also had to be small and light so as not to encumber runners, only SPOT ticked all these boxes,” Bauer added.

“To be selected to help provide tracking and safety for such a remarkable competition as MARATHON DES SABLES is a true honour,” commented Gavan Murphy, Director of Marketing EMEA, Globalstar.

MDS is scheduled to take place from 3^rd to 13^th April.