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Mobile Satellite Systems
The US$2 billion Globalstar mobile satellite phone system launched in October 1999,
using a
constellation of 48 Low Earth Orbit
(LEO) satellites to provide global mobile satellite telephony.
It's competitor, Iridium, went live in 4Q98, but
filed for bankruptcy in August 1999. Another competitor,
ICO
also filed for bankruptcy in September 1999.
Globalstar had planned to launch by mid-1999, but a rocket carrying a
number of it's satellites
blew up in September 1998.
See details of one of it's
satellite launches.
Telital Globalstar Phone
The Globalstar System
Globalstar Satellite Launch 7/99
More on Globalstar...
Globalstar is backed by Loral and
Qualcomm, who will develop the ground segments, consisting of gateways,
control centres and hand-held telephones - all based on Qualcomm’s CDMA
technology.
The expected price to end users will, at around $0.65 per minute (plus
long-distance charges), be the cheapest of all.
Ericsson, Qualcomm and Telital
will make the Globalstar handsets.
Two recently formed African
telecommunications companies will offer Globalstar mobile and fixed
satellite telephone services in 12 African nations.
GlobalTouch Communications is the exclusive provider for four
West African countries, including Nigeria Ghana, Togo, Benin.
Mobile Telecommunications Africa (MTA), a telecommunications
consortium based in Nairobi, Kenya, has signed exclusive agreements with
Globalstar to become the Globalstar exclusive service provider for eight
East African countries including Sudan, Ethiopia Eritrea, Somalia,
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Vodacom will probably be the South African service provider.
Members of the Globalstar Consortium include:
- Loral
- Qualcomm
- Vodaphone
- France Telecom
- Dacom
- Airtouch Communications
- Daimler-Benz Aerospace
- Finmeccanica
- Alcatel
- Spacesytems Loral
- Alenia
- Hyundai
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