Many thanks for the reply FF
Yes I saw the initial report , but wondered if in the meantime any airlines were "volunteering"
to make 15 minute reports as a safety measure .
I assume that an auto ADS-B style report , containing location information is simply sent via the L band comms link to the satellite then down to the earth stations via C band , providing a regularly updated Oceanic tracking "log"
Obviously at this stage the data would not be used for "Oceanic ATC" purposes , but could help to avoid another MH370 scenario , as at worst
, on the basis that these pings were automated and could not be overridden, a flight would never be more than 15 mins from point of last contact.