Oxfordshire: SATcase shares future of satellite communications with prime minister

Prime minister David Cameron recently visited Witney-based Data Plastics, one of the UK’s leading injection moulders, where he was introduced to a number of standout British products the company is helping to produce.  One of these was SATcase, a highly innovative satellite communications device.

SATcase is a ruggedised piece of equipment that works with an app to transform the common smartphone into a satellite communications device.

As well as enabling users to make a call no matter where they are in the world, the device includes a smart mix of emergency features. SATcase acts as a global communicator, powerful work tool and life-saving device in one, making it suitable for adventure-seekers, mariners, aviators, remote/lone workers and more.

SATcase is the brainchild of Jim Thomson, a helicopter pilot with over 25 years' experience in IT and telecoms. He originally came up with the idea in 2011 during work on a previous project to rapidly deploy helicopters for search and rescue operations. He noticed that the number of items carried during an emergency encumbered crew-members in movement and that any one item could be easily lost or forgotten. He also realised that the one piece of equipment that was likely to always be present was a person’s smartphone, with all their contacts readily available.

Thomson began an investigation from his kitchen table into whether a number of technologies could be integrated into one simple device, and SATcase was born. Based at the Harwell Innovation Centre in Oxfordshire, the company currently employs 10-15 people, and is looking to rapidly grow its team in both the UK and abroad.

Cameron was particularly interested in the technology behind SATcase and how the product is being designed and manufactured in the UK. He said: “This is an amazing piece of technology that meets a real need. Its strength is in its simplicity and I am sure that it will become a must-have for everyone from travelling businessmen to thrill-seeking explorers.”

Thomson added: “As a growing British company, we jumped at the opportunity to present our product to the prime minister during his visit to Data Plastics. We have been delighted by his reception of SATcase and this has encouraged us to keep working hard towards our goal of saving lives all around the world.”