PALO ALTO, Calif., 26 April 2005. Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) today announced that it has recently signed a contract with ICO Satellite Management, LLC for the design and construction of a geostationary Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) satellite that, together with an Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC), will be capable of providing mobile voice and data communications throughout the United States.
"The 2-GHz mobile systems are driving a growing segment of today's satellite manufacturing industry," said Bernard L. Schwartz, chairman and CEO of Loral Space & Communications. "With ICO and other 2-GHz programs under development, SS/L has put a stake in the ground as the leading provider of these next generation mobile satellites."
ICO's GEO satellite is based on SS/L's space-proven 1300 platform, which has an excellent record of reliable operation. Its high efficiency solar arrays and lightweight batteries are designed to provide uninterrupted electrical power. In all, SS/L satellites have amassed almost 1,200 years of reliable on-orbit service.
ICO is one of two companies awarded licenses by the FCC to provide satellite-based communications services with ATC technology in the 2-GHz frequency band. With its SS/L constructed geostationary satellite and ATC, ICO will provide next generation mobile voice and data services, providing complete coverage regardless of the user's location.
Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, is a designer, manufacturer, and integrator of powerful satellites and satellite systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services that include mission control operations and procurement of launch services. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., the company has an international base of commercial and governmental customers whose applications include broadband digital communications, direct-to-home broadcast, defense communications, environmental monitoring, and air traffic control. SS/L is ISO 9001:2000 certified. For more information, see www.ssloral.com.
Loral Space & Communications is a satellite communications company. In addition to Space Systems/Loral, through its Skynet subsidiary Loral owns and operates a fleet of telecommunications satellites used to broadcast video entertainment programming, and for broadband data transmission, Internet services and other value-added communications services. For more information, see www.loral.com.
