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Iridium Commences Engineering Studies for Future Satellite Replenishment and Replacement Plan

Posted on: Tuesday, 7 February 2006, 06:00 CST

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Iridium Satellite LLC today revealed that it will start a major engineering study program in 2006 as the next step toward developing its next-generation satellite constellation.

Iridium provides mobile communication services globally through a constellation of 66 cross-linked, low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellites. Independent studies have projected that the service life of the existing constellation will extend until 2014 or longer under various configuration options.

"It is time for us to begin the process of defining and shaping the satellite constellation and network architecture that will carry Iridium Satellite into the future beyond 2014," said Iridium Satellite executive vice president, Greg Ewert. "Over the next two quarters, we will contract with major industry firms to collect and analyze performance data from our existing satellites. This data will provide the foundation for our next-generation system. It will also enable us to begin looking at the technology and products that will be needed for the next two decades and beyond. It's very exciting for us to be engaging industry on everything from laser cross-linked technology to a product portfolio that might consist of IPTV, on-demand radio and video or enhanced GPS."

Ewert noted that the current satellite system has sufficient capacity to sustain continued growth in both voice and data traffic well into the future.

"We have every reason to expect that many of the existing satellites will still be functioning into the 2020s, and we intend to ensure that the transition from the old to the new satellites will be seamless with backward compatibility," Ewert said. "We will also continue to provide uninterrupted service to our customers, who are depending on Iridium for a wide range of mission-critical applications."

About Iridium Satellite

Iridium Satellite LLC (http://www.iridium.com/) is the only provider of truly global satellite voice and data solutions with complete coverage of the earth (including oceans, airways and Polar Regions). Iridium delivers essential communications services to and from remote areas where no other form of communication is available. The Iridium constellation of 66 low-earth orbiting (LEO), cross-linked satellites operates as a fully meshed network and is the largest commercial satellite constellation in the world. The Iridium service is ideally suited for industries such as maritime, aviation, government/military, emergency/humanitarian services, mining, forestry, oil and gas, heavy equipment, transportation and utilities. Iridium provides service to the U.S. Department of Defense. The company also designs, builds and sells its services, products and solutions through a worldwide network of more than 100 partners.

First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:

Iridium Satellite LLC

CONTACT: Liz DeCastro of Iridium Satellite LLC, +1-301-571-6257,liz.decastro@iridium.com; or Jim Rhodes of Rhodes Communications,+1-757-451-0602, jrhodes@rhodescomm.com, for Iridium Satellite LLC

Web site: http://www.iridium.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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