Army developing adaptor to convert android cell phones into satellite phones - The Tribune India

Tribune News Service

Vijay Mohan

Chandigarh, December 31

With the expanding usage of satellite-based connection systems successful the equipped forces, the Army is processing portable adaptors that tin person a accepted android cellular telephone into a outer phone.

“Our request is for a programmable handheld adaptor that tin beryllium connected to immoderate android telephone done a micro-USB oregon Bluetooth for converting it into a outer phone,” an serviceman said.

According to sources, the task volition beryllium outsourced to the Indian manufacture done a competitory bidding process. The instrumentality should beryllium little than 500 g successful value with a speech clip of astatine slightest 2 hours and standby clip of astatine slightest 10 hours.

Imported adaptors to person cellular phones to outer phones are besides disposable successful the commercialized market, but the Army’s accent is connected indigenous development. These adaptors tin besides beryllium utilized by the Air Force and Navy arsenic good arsenic different services.

“Satellite phones are disposable successful constricted numbers and done circumstantial foreign-based work providers only,” an serviceman said. “On the different hand, everyone has a compartment telephone which tin beryllium connected to our ain connection outer web done the indigenous adaptors,” helium added.

While cellular telephone sum is not disposable successful galore areas successful the mountains and deserts wherever the equipped forces are deployed arsenic determination are nary cellular towers adjacent for connectivity, outer phones look nary specified restrictions and tin beryllium utilized from virtually immoderate constituent connected earth.

The service has satellite-based vigor sets for communication, but these mostly interlink units and formations. Converting mobile phones into outer phones would marque one-to-one connection and transportation of information betwixt individuals oregon tiny groups connected the determination faster and much convenient.

The Army is besides looking astatine means to marque outer telephone connection much unafraid by processing anti-jamming and anti-spoofing circuits that tin beryllium integrated into the handsets. 

Earlier this year, the Army conducted a pan-India drill, Exercise Skylight, to trial the operational preparedness of its satellite-based assets and unit manning them. All connection systems utilizing satellites were activated and assorted functional procedures and method parameters were validated.