Globalstar has filed an application with the FCC for ATC Authority
On March 3, 2005 Globalstar LLC announced that it has filed an application with the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for authority to offer Ancillary Terrestrial Service or (ATC). This will only apply in the U.S. Globalstar is the second satellite service provider to apply for ATC authority. The FCC adopted regulations governing ATC in 2003.Globalstar successfully demonstrated the ATC service using a transportable base station using a prototype ATC phone in New York and Washington in July of 2002. ATC base stations can be fixed or transportable for temporary operation. The ATC base station is smaller than a cellular base station.
Currently when using a satellite phone you must be outdoors or have an external antenna to have line-of-site to one of the satellites. Using a hand held unit could require as much as an 80% view of the sky. Buildings and other structures block the satellite signal from getting through to the satellite phone units. With this ATC authority from the FCC, Globalstar will be able to enhance its coverage to include urban areas where this ATC signal can penetrate structures including buildings and vehicles. A device using satellite radio frequencies can then be used indoors. Local area networks can be established in remote areas using the ATC service where emergency services are required.
Globalstar will have the authority to use satellite radio frequencies with their existing satellite service offering terrestrial wireless service similar to PCS or cellular service. This will greatly expand Globalstar’s market allowing customers to use the phone freely in a building or in a vehicle where before the Globalstar satellite service had limitations where you must be outdoors to use the unit. There will be much time and effort involved in setting up the infrastructure involving integrating the satellite and ATC wireless service to work with one unit. Additional testing of the service will be required to offer a seamless transition to this new service.
When Globalstar moves forward the first part of the ATC service rollout will be limited to a few large urban areas then should expand to cover numerous larger cities where the demand for the service will be at its greatest. This will offer a new unheard of service that could eventually change the face of mobile hand held communications offering few limits and gaps in service. Once fully rolled out customers can enjoy unparalleled service in areas not well serviced by cellular providers. This new ATC service could start competing with existing cellular providers. GlobalCom is looking forward to this enhanced service provided by Globalstar.
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