Steve Mehs
01-31-03, 03:52 AM
The Federal Communications Commission granted mobile satellite system (MSS) operators an ancillary terrestrial component to their spectrum licenses, a move that will ensure additional competitive communications services are available to more consumers, MSS companies said.
MSS services have said the FCC move to grant a terrestrial component will help alleviate service challenges they face in urban areas and inside of buildings. They also said the terrestrial component will improve voice and data communications services for many rural areas that, without satellite service, would have no other opportunity to get the next generation of telecommunications offerings.
Mobile satellite services also said the new component will allow them to provide governments and public safety organizations that require reliable communication with ubiquitous service.
"Allowing MSS providers to utilize ancillary terrestrial components is an important step in the on-going process of making MSS business plans and full scale deployment successful," said Craig Jorgens, president of MSS licensee ICO Global Communications. "We recognize, however, that this is only one step and that ICO and many others in the industry still face significant challenges ahead - including the necessity to attract additional funding and the ongoing need for additional spectrum."
In addition to adding the terrestrial component, the commission said it wants comments on a proposal to redistributing spectrum in the Big LEO band between MSS licensees Iridium and Globalstar.
In a separate move for MSS player Globalstar, the company confirmed that New Valley Corp. terminated its agreement in which it would have provided debtor-in-possession financing and would have acquired a controlling interest in the mobile satellite phone company.
Globalstar said it's continuing discussions with potential investors, and is confident that another restructuring plan will be developed in the future.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/jan2003/013103.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)
MSS services have said the FCC move to grant a terrestrial component will help alleviate service challenges they face in urban areas and inside of buildings. They also said the terrestrial component will improve voice and data communications services for many rural areas that, without satellite service, would have no other opportunity to get the next generation of telecommunications offerings.
Mobile satellite services also said the new component will allow them to provide governments and public safety organizations that require reliable communication with ubiquitous service.
"Allowing MSS providers to utilize ancillary terrestrial components is an important step in the on-going process of making MSS business plans and full scale deployment successful," said Craig Jorgens, president of MSS licensee ICO Global Communications. "We recognize, however, that this is only one step and that ICO and many others in the industry still face significant challenges ahead - including the necessity to attract additional funding and the ongoing need for additional spectrum."
In addition to adding the terrestrial component, the commission said it wants comments on a proposal to redistributing spectrum in the Big LEO band between MSS licensees Iridium and Globalstar.
In a separate move for MSS player Globalstar, the company confirmed that New Valley Corp. terminated its agreement in which it would have provided debtor-in-possession financing and would have acquired a controlling interest in the mobile satellite phone company.
Globalstar said it's continuing discussions with potential investors, and is confident that another restructuring plan will be developed in the future.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/jan2003/013103.shtm#two) (Used with Permission)