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As a GNSS hardware player, Javad has a unique vantage point with solid operations in the US and Europe and an R&D centre in Russia. Javad Ashjaee, CEO, sees an exciting future ahead for the market as he says the focus is to be flexible enough to be able to respond to change
Javad group comprises three divisions – Javad GNSS, Javad ArWest and Javad EMS – how much of these are geospatial in nature?
Our focus is on ‘precision positioning and timing using GNSS satellites’. Javad GNSS focuses on the GNSS technology, ArWest’s focus is on communication and modems that are essential in RTK and real-time applications. To have a direct control on our manufacturing, we established Javad EMS to bring manufacturing back to US and to the heart of Silicon Valley. In Javad EMS, we manufacture our products and also provide manufacturing to other companies. Some of the largest international companies are clients of Javad EMS.
Which are the businesses and geographies you are focussing on?
We are not focusing on low-end and low-precision applications and none of our products are aligned for those markets. We are not even going to touch markets like smartphones which comprise most of the GNSS market. That market is not complex from technology point of view but extremely complex from low-cost manufacturing and distribution. Taking advantage of new developments in integrated circuits, we were able to reduce the cost to lower than half while doubling the performance. This is the challenge of our market.
We are not excluding any geographic areas, but most of our success has been in America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. We plan to sell mostly direct in the USA and strengthen our dealership network outside of the USA. We had solid growth and huge success in bringing new technology to the world. Our focus in on technology and revenue and profit margin follows.
TRIUMPH-4X is equivalent of four independent TRIUMPH-1 receivers packaged in the same small box
TRIUMPH-F1 is equipped with four-angled documentation cameras and a downward high-precision camera for photogrammetry
GNSS is an area which is continuously evolving. What overall opportunity are you addressing?
First, we introduced 12 channel receivers when only GPS satellites existed. Then we were the first to offer GLONASS with 86 channel receivers. Then we followed with 216 channels and this year with 864 channels to be ready for all new satellites and also be able to monitor interferences. We allocate more than 100 channels to monitor interferences that are becoming a major issue in congested spectrums, especially now when wireless technology is expanding and threatening GNSS bands.
We have GPS and GLONASS and we currently track Beidou too. We are the only company that offers tracking and decoding Japan’s LEX QZSS signals. We are well positioned to stay in the forefront of technology and product development with all types of satellites and signals. There is no technical difficulty in using multiple GNSS signals. The only problem is when satellite signal providers do not provide accurate Interface Document publicly and on a timely manner.
Do you think there is enough collaboration, cooperation and coordination between various countries offering GNSS signals?
Cooperation between GNSS signal providers has been good. I have witnessed a lot of cooperation to make the systems interoperable. More satellites and more signals make GNSS receivers accurate and reliable. Everyone is going to benefit from this.
How proactive are governments or multilateral organisations like World Bank/FAO in promoting the use of GNSS in areas like agriculture, construction etc?
There is not much that such organisations can do. It is the demand of the customers that drives the markets and the response of manufacturers to such demands.
Where do you see Javad, say, five years from now?
Your question reminds me of an article I read 20 years ago “Future is not what it used to be”. It is so hard to predict what will happen in the next five years. Our focus is to be flexible enough to be able to respond to changes. Imagine a tennis player who does not know from which side the next ball may come, but the player positions himself/herself to be able to respond to most possibilities.
