WASHINGTON-Iridium L.L.C. announced it has signed distribution agreements with 209 regional wireless service providers and roaming partners across the globe.
The distribution agreements bring Iridium access to 72 million wireless subscribers, a population of 3.4 billion people, representing 60 percent of the world’s population and equal to about two-thirds of Iridium’s business plan, the company said.
The agreements include those with AT&T Wireless Services Inc. in the United States, Telecom Italia in Italy, DDI of Japan, Miniphone in Argentina, Cellnet and Orange plc in the United Kingdom and the previously announced agreement with Paging Network Inc., also in the United States.
Dr. Edward Staiano, Iridium vice chairman and chief executive officer, said the company will continue to establish more such agreements up to the planned Sept. 23 launch date and beyond.
Iridium’s 15 gateway operating companies throughout the world are responsible for establishing and managing the relationships with local service providers and roaming partners in their respective territories.
