CLARKSBURG, Md.-Ericsson Ltd. awarded a contract to Comsat Laboratories to develop a high penetration notification subsystem for ICO Global Communications Ltd., which is developing a handheld satellite phone service. Comsat values the contract at $14.4 million.
The subsystems will be located at each of ICO’s 12 satellite access nodes, which will be linked together to form a single global mobile communications network-the Iconet. The Iconet will be connected to the existing public telephone and cellular networks.
As a member of the Iconet ground facilities team led by NEC Corp., Ericsson will provide the mobile switching centers at the satellite access nodes. According to the contract, Comsat Laboratories will design, develop, integrate and test the HPN subsystem at every site.
