[WRC] News & Rumours (part V) 2017

[mknight]

It's not that complicated. The boxes that use GPS and inertial sensors, log them and allow communication are now used in multiple national championships and are produced by multiple producers. It's mostly about putting together sub-components.

The only major difference for this is they have to work at all the WRC locations. So using only mobile networks for the uplink is not enough.
Either they can pick a hybrid system with satellite (Iridium) as a backup uplink or they could go more exotic and use an airborne relay. Inmarsat used a plane for that 15 year ago when they were the main sponsor. Apart from cost (which might drop if you use some medium-size drone or even airship), spectrum licensing in different countries could also be a problem.
Anyway even with just Iridium there off course are some integration issues.