NEW YORK-Led by dramatic expansion of television, mobile telephony and multimedia services, global satellite industry revenues will skyrocket to $171 billion in 2007 from $38 billion in 1997, according to projections by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., New York.Within the next year...
DENVER, United States-If all goes as planned, the world could have as many as 10 mobile satellite communications (MSS) systems operating in the next five years. By 2002, the MSS industry could be an US$8.5 billion market.The various service providers will comprise four different...
WARSAW, Poland-Four satellite network operators joined the GSM MoU Association during its annual meeting in April in Warsaw, Poland, according to the group.Globalstar L.P., Iridium L.L.C., ICO Global Communications and ACeS were part of the 41 new members to join the association."The addition of...
LOS ANGELES-Hughes Electronics Corp. said its first-quarter revenues increased 26.1 percent to $1.3 billion from $1.02 billion during the first quarter of 1997. Earnings more than doubled to $53.7 million, or 13 cents per share, from $23.9 million, or 6 cents per share, during...
The RCR research and editorial staffs have compiled this list of mobile satellite carriers based on interviews with industry contacts. The chart is arranged alphabetically because most of the companies are not yet offering service and cannot therefore be ranked by subscribers.Many of the...
TRW Inc. announced it will integrate its interests in Odyssey Telecommunications International Inc. with ICO Global Communications, marking the first consolidation move in the mobile satellite industry.TRW said it is acquiring an equity interest in London-based ICO and will receive 1.5 million ICO shares,...
WASHINGTON-As prospects grow that the Jan. 1 start date of the global telecom free trade pact will be delayed, the United States is coming under fire by the European Union for the Federal Communications Commission's implementation of the trade agreement.Fifty of the 69 signatories...
NEW YORK-As the new year approaches in the horse race that is commercial deployment of low earth orbit mobile satellite systems, "we're still at the first half-mile, with the finish line at 2000," said Timothy Logue, a satellite analyst for Coudert Brothers, Washington, D.C.There...
WASHINGTON-Though legislation to privatize the world's two multigovernment international satellite consortia is unlikely to move until next year, firms are moving ahead aggressively to lock in new mobile satellite service spectrum to position themselves for uncertain competition.Last week's hearing on a bill to restructure...
PARAMUS, N.J.-Wireless Telecom Group Inc. received an initial order for satellite test systems to be used in the ICO Global Communications satellite network. The company values the agreement at $1.5 million. ICO is an international consortium of telecom service providers and network operators.
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...
WASHINGTON-The United States is honing preparations to press for additional global mobile satellite spectrum at the World Radiocommunication Conference this fall in Geneva, but prospects appear more promising for big low-earth-orbit mobile phone systems than for little LEO data systems.The U.S. delegation, led by...
NEW YORK-The successful launch May 5 of the first six of 55 planned Iridium Inc. low-earth-orbit satellites is a good omen for the fledgling global mobile satellite service industry.The success of that initial deployment after several delays would be an important but preliminary milestone...
Proposed changes in the structure of Inmarsat will make the organization more "commercially agile," according to Inmarsat Director General Warren Grace.The International Mobile Satellite Organization is making moves to privatize its operation, in response to complaints from private satellite companies that Inmarsat is a...
Several low-earth-orbit satellite systems will have initial launches this year, marking the beginning of services that a Washington, D.C., consulting firm says "will fill the gaps other wireless systems don't cover."Big LEOs and medium earth orbit systems will not only be viable but will...
Ericsson Private Radio Systems ordered 150 PCMobile units from XL Computing Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cycomm International Inc. XL Computing values the order at more than $1 million. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of the year. The PCMobile units will...
LONG ISLAND, N.Y.-Affordable Message Center said it will offer Mercury Paging & Communications Inc. services to its New York and New Jersey resellers. Mercury Paging operates on the 931 MHz frequency band and is available in 1200 baud, 2400 baud and Flex paging speeds....
Donald Gips has a penchant for throwing himself into his work-and play-with reckless finesse and abandon.And he's paying for it today with a severely ruptured disc on the mend from years of rough and tumble sports that could have easily left him paralyzed and...
WASHINGTON-Having spent the better part of the 104th Congress reforming domestic telecommunications policy, lawmakers gave notice last week of their intention to make international satellite competition the top priority when they return next year.Already, the Clinton administration is under attack by some lawmakers who...
WASHINGTON-Mobile Communications Holdings Inc. told federal regulators last week it has more than $650 million in financial commitments to operate the Ellipso global pocket telephone satellite system.In January 1995, the Federal Communications Commission found MCHI financial qualifications lacking but gave the firm time to...
Comsat International Communications is creating a business unit to focus solely on mobile satellite communications. Comsat Personal Communications initially will concentrate on Comsat's Planet 1 global phone service scheduled to be available later this year. By the turn of the century CPC also will...
WASHINGTON-Where mobile satellite service policymaking is concerned, federal regulators are not promoting the friendly skies. Far from it.Competition is the name of the game at the Federal Communications Commission. The heavenly stage is being set for wireless Star Wars-close encounters of the unfriendly kind...
A galaxy of new wireless services may soon beam down on the telephony-poor regions of the world.Mobile satellite systems-just like terrestrial-based wireless networks-are evolving from serving specialized markets to providing consumer pocket telephony as well as plain old telephone service. Right now, many of...
It's hard to tell whether the first session of the 104th Congress is winding down or whether Washington is just all wound up.The GOP-led Congress was scrambling to pass the remaining appropriations bills, arguing with itself and the Clinton administration about approving another stop-gap...
