DSPComm buoyant about new underwater modem

The applications of an underwater modem may not be immediately apparent for those outside of the defence industry, but a small Perth-based firm has developed such a product that it says has a range of uses in industries from aquaculture to recreation.

DSPComm says that its Aqua-comm product is more accurate and significantly cheaper than current underwater modems available on the market, predominantly in used the defence industry.

The Aquacomm concept is based on digital signal processing technology (similar to mobile phones) and acoustics, to transmit signals underwater.

DSPComm director Manjula Ellepola said take-up of under-water communications had been slow, despite an apparent need.

Aquacomm could be used when working with underwater mines, or keeping track of cray or pearling equipment following a cyclone, he said.

“There have been acoustic modems in the past, but they have not worked very well,” Mr Ellepola told WA Business News.

Aquacomm was on the market at a lower price point so as to make it affordable to commercial sectors, including defence, oil and gas, aquaculture, and recreation such as diving.

“Traditionally they have been very expensive and used by large organisations, such as the navy,” Mr Ellepola said.

“Basically, we still make good money out of this. We could have charged a lot more for it, double, but that would not allow us to create new markets and applications for it.”

DSPComm was established as a consultancy in 2000 by Mr Ellepola, who has a background in electronics and communications engineering, and his partner Tee Chuan Ng, who has a background in computer engineering.

They developed Aquacomm and tested it with Tasmanian-based Fiomarine – which incorporated it into a submersible buoy, where the product gained the attention of the Australian Navy.

The product is now available as either a self-contained, stand-alone product or as a component for original equipment manufacturers.

The company received a $70,000 COMET grant in 2003 and has been working with business advisory firm Atrico to commercialise the product.

“That gave us a lot of exposure into the business side and how to develop the business,” Mr Ellepola said.

The company also hopes to raise up to $1 million in venture capital funding.