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Mackay News
10.10.06
GLOBALSTAR SIGNS INITAL AGREEMENT FOR SECOND GENERATION LEO SATELLITE CONSTELLATION
GLOBALSTAR SIGNS INITAL AGREEMENT FOR SECOND GENERATION LEO SATELLITE CONSTELLATION
NEWS RELEASE
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MILPITAS, CA. -- (October 10, 2006) – Globalstar, Inc., a provider of mobile satellite voice and data services, announced today it has signed a EURO 7.7 million Authorization to Proceed (ATP) agreement with Alcatel Alenia Space for the company’s second generation satellite constellation. In addition to engaging Alcatel to conduct a program readiness review and to develop program milestones, the ATP provides that Globalstar and Alcatel Alenia Space will negotiate a definitive contract for Alcatel Alenia Space to construct 48 low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites for Globalstar’s second-generation satellite constellation. The ATP will terminate on the earlier of the signing of a definitive contract and November 15, 2006.
In order to secure the company’s future space operations, Globalstar has specified that the planned second-generation constellation be designed to operate until at least 2025 and to seamlessly integrate with the company’s current constellation of LEO satellites, while providing the space segment necessary to support significantly higher data speeds and other new services to the handheld devices.
“We are extremely pleased to be working with Alcatel Alenia Space on an agreement that is so vital for the long term success of Globalstar,” said Jay Monroe, Chairman and CEO of Globalstar, Inc. Mr. Monroe added, “This agreement is a crucial first step towards securing the Globalstar space segment and augmenting our present LEO constellation of satellites. Of extreme importance, the new constellation is intended also to provide our customers with long term continuity of service by being fully backwards compatible with our current line of products.”
Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO of Alcatel Alenia Space commented: “We are very proud that Globalstar has extended its cooperation with us and continues to place its trust in our satellite solutions. This agreement demonstrates our capability to design and build large series of LEO satellites as well as our expertise in providing competitive satellite solutions.” Mrs Sourisse added: “This agreement will involve Alcatel Alenia Space’s production sites in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium. It highlights Alcatel Alenia Space worldwide leadership in telecommunications satellite orders for the year 2006.”
As a contractor for the first generation of Globalstar satellites, Alcatel Alenia Space was responsible for the satellite payloads, structures, as well as satellite integration. The company was also responsible for manufacturing and installing the Globalstar ground segment gateway antenna terminals.
(Information provided by Globalstar USA)
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