The travails of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen, who have no reliable, and cost-effective means to send SOS messages during life-threatening situations at sea, can finally come to an end, with the recent launch of a solution by satellite-based IoT technology firm Skylo Technologies.
This ‘Made in India’ Solution, which is indigenously developed by Skylo connects with BSNL’s satellite ground infrastructure and provides PAN-India coverage, including Indian seas.
Skylo offers two-way connectivity, and installation is easy. Skylo provides a compact and portable hardware – the Skylo Hub. Skylo Hub can be mounted on the boat, and connected to the battery for power supply. With the help of inbuilt sensors, it can relay messages via the Skylo Satellite Network, transmitting real time data to the shore on desktop or mobile phone via Skylo App.
Fishermen can also receive data relayed from the shore to boat through the Skylo hub, via Skylo’s satellite network, on their Skylo mobile app. The subscription services are also affordable, costing as low as a daily cup of tea / coffee.
Using the technology, fishermen can reach out to the Indian Coast Guard or any other Tamil Nadu government officials in case of emergencies, accidents and get alerts if they are in the danger of inadvertently entering foreign waters while fishing.
The fishermen can also receive weather alerts and cyclone warnings. The Skylo solution also helps fishermen increase their income as they can share information about their catch immediately and close deals with traders while still at sea. They can interact with their friends and family members.
Skylo plans to work closely with the State Government and fishermen cooperatives and associations to create awareness about the benefits of its indigenously developed product. The company offers customised and highly affordable subscription models for fishermen and fishing boat owners.
Commenting about the need for the solution, Skylo Programme Director – Fisheries Ganesh Nakhawa said Skylo firmly believes that unless digitisation and advanced technology are deployed consistently, challenges will remain and continue to be barriers to productivity, growth and safety of our fishermen.
“For centuries, industries like fisheries have been operating offline, and have not had the opportunity to take full advantage of the latest advancements in AI & IoT – until now,” said Ganesh Nakhawa.
“Tamil Nadu has more than 10 lakh fishermen who live in about 600 marine fishing villages situated along the 13 coastal districts. They all can now reap the benefits of this technology,” he added.
Skylo Hub has already proved its significance for the fishermen community, when on November 26, 2020, it helped authorities save seven fishermen from Maharashtra from drowning. The fishermen were on board a small fishing boat off the coast of Maharashtra in western India. Unfortunately, their boat got damaged and began to sink.
However, Skylo Hub, mounted on the boat, raised an alarm with the boat owner as well as the coastal security of the state. The system also shared information about the exact location of the sinking boat. The alerted authorities could plunge into rescue operations just in time and save the lives of the fishermen.
Skylo Technologies offers various plans for businesses and individuals, customers have the option of availing plans according to their requirements.
