Iridium Exceeds 100,000 Users

Iridium Satellite: Achieving dramatic growth since rebirth in 2001

BETHESDA, MD/Satnews Daily/ -- Iridium Satellite LLC has exceeded 100,000 subscribers and its satellite network is demonstrating exceptional longevity with continued service expected for at least the next ten years without the launch of additional satellites.

Reporting on the company’s milestones, Iridium Chairman and CEO Carmen Lloyd said “Iridium is well positioned for continued rapid growth as the only satellite communications system providing mobile voice and data service with global pole to pole coverage.”

Iridium Satellite LLC acquired the operating assets of the original Iridium system in December 2000, and relaunched global satellite communications services in March 2001. In June 2001, Iridium started offering dial-up data and direct Internet connections, followed by prepaid calling services in 2002 and short-burst data and short messaging services (SMS) in 2003.

Lloyd announced that revenues have grown by more than 17 percent in the first half of 2004. This growth follows record performance in 2003 when revenues increased 44 percent over 2002 revenues. Iridium forecasts call for continued revenue growth with flat costs. 
 

“Our rapid growth is attributed to a disciplined marketing strategy focused on reaching key vertical markets through partnerships with major service providers,” said Lloyd. 

 “We have consistently added 2,000 to 3,000 subscribers per month since our commercial service relaunch in April 2001.”
 

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced last month it is expanding Iridium Satellite’s spectrum with access to an additional 3.1 MHz to meet increasing demand.