Globalcom Satellite Phone News and Updates

Globalstar Acquires Venezuelan Gateway

March 7, 2005 Globalstar de Venezuela C.A. signed an agreement with TE.SA.M de Venezuela to acquire the Globalstar ground station and service operations located in Venezuela. Globalstar de Venezuela which is a subsidiary of Globalstar LLC assumed the management of the Globalstar Venezuela business after the non-regulated asset transfer. Upon approval of the Venezuelan Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, CONATEL a second closing will be completed. The transferring of the assets to Globalstar de Venezuela will include the satellite ground station and other regulated assets.

Tony Navarra, president of Globalstar LLC said this is part of our commitment to improve and expand service for the region which would include U.S. International roaming customers. Globalstar LLC is also committed to improve service to domestic Venezuelan customers. After acquiring the Globalstar Venezuelan business Globalstar LLC will use its expertise to improve and enhance the capabilities of the Venezuela gateway. Globalstar LLC has the ability to expand its capabilities and create a foundation for new International services and products.

This arrangement will allow the realignment of the other Globalstar gateways in that region of the world to work together with the Venezuelan gateway to establish a Pan South American service. Globalstar’s goal is to reduce the roaming cost for International customers and improve the southern Caribbean coverage.

There is strong demand in the Venezuelan gateway region for both voice and data service from both marine and rural satellite phone service. Globalstar LLC is commitment to establish improved service which will create additional customers in this region.

Globalstar’s additional goals are to buy back other gateways which could include Mexico. Though the acquisition of other gateways like the Venezuelan gateway Globalstar LLC would again use its expertise to improve and enhance the capabilities of each gateway it is able to acquire. This would establish a more reliable and solid coverage for both International roamers and the domestic customers in the region of the gateway. The realignment and technical improvements of the gateways Globalstar acquires will eventually create a seamless service for customers roaming on other gateways.

Globalstar has established a new gateway in south Florida which will improve service in the Bahamas and the northeastern Caribbean. This gateway is currently being tested and should be on-line in the summer of 2005. There are plans for another gateway to be built in Canada which would greatly improve service in Alaska in the future.

Globalstar is GlobalCom’s flagship product and is the world’s most widely used handheld satellite phone. Globalstar provides coverage in over 120 countries. For more information go to our Globlcom home.

posted by David and Brooke @ 11:52 AM

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.

posted by David and Brooke @ 11:10 AM