Earlier this year Globalstar and Arion Communication Co. Ltd., a provider of mobile satellite voice and data products and services to maritime customers in Korea signed a joint venture agreement to form Globalstar Asia Pacific. The new joint venture company will operate the Globalstar gateway ground station in Korea and provide Simplex and duplex mobile satellite voice and data services including SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger(TM) products and services to customers in Korea and the surrounding maritime region.
"Now that the license transfer has been granted, Globalstar Asia Pacific can proceed with its plans to expand and support the market for both our Simplex and duplex mobile satellite services and SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger consumer products throughout Korea and the surrounding area," said Peter Dalton, Chief Executive Officer, Globalstar, Inc. "We will also complete the installation of satellite telemetry control unit (TCU) upgrades at the ground station located in Yeoju. These upgrades will allow us to globally monitor and control the orbital deployment of our new second-generation satellite constellation scheduled for launch beginning in late September or October."
"The stringent criteria of the Korean Communications Commission (KCC) presented challenges in the approval process, but we can now say that we have succeeded in overcoming these. We are extremely happy that we have achieved our goal with the support of all parties involved. In the very near future Globalstar Asia Pacific will begin offering Globalstar satellite services including SPOT and Simplex data throughout Korea and the Surrounding area," said Tony Park, CEO of Arion Communications Co., Ltd.
Globalstar Asia Pacific acquired the existing satellite gateway located southeast of Seoul in Yeoju, from LG Telecom, which has been the Globalstar service provider in the region since 2001. Globalstar, Inc. and LG Telecom signed a business transfer agreement subject to the KCC license transfer to Globalstar Asia Pacific. With the license transfer now complete, LG Telecom plans to transition the operations of the gateway to Globalstar Asia Pacific over the next 90 days. Globalstar, Inc. will provide Globalstar Asia Pacific with the necessary engineering and technical training and personnel support required to operate the gateway.