MSV, Boeing to Accelerate Deployment of North American Satellites

RESTON, Va., May 25, 2006/Satnews Daily/ ― Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) and its joint venture partner, MSV Canada, had reached an agreement with Boeing to accelerate the deployment of its two North American satellites, which will form the backbone of its satellite-cellular wireless communications network.

MSV said the agreement will accelerate by about eight months, the construction, launch and operations of each of the two North American satellites, with the launch of the United States satellite scheduled for mid-2009 and the Canadian satellite in early 2010.

These two new satellites will replace and expand upon the current MSAT satellite system operated by MSV and MSV Canada and offer consumers the most highly advanced wireless communications services available. The development of the third satellite for South America, MSV-SA, has been deferred to the third delivery position for the MSV system.

“Our decision to amend the agreement reflects a need in the marketplace to focus on North America as a priority in launching an advanced ubiquitous network solution and reflects a better return on our investment for our shareholders,” said Alexander Good, vice chairman, CEO and president of MSV.

He said when the satellites become operational, they will be providing wireless service with devices that are virtually identical to cell phone handsets in terms of aesthetics, cost and functionality.

“The applications for a commercial service, including deployment of an anywhere, anytime broadband network, are enormous. The benefits to homeland security are also compelling, as satellites can act as the primary form of communication for emergency responders during natural disasters when usual means of communication can fail,” Good said.

MSV announced in January 2006 that it entered into an agreement with Boeing to build three next generation L-band satellites to enable the world's first commercial mobile satellite service using integrated space and terrestrial elements, beginning with the launch of MSV-SA.

The network, based on MSV's patented Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) technology, combines the best of satellite and cellular technology, to deliver reliable, advanced and ubiquitous voice and data coverage. MSV said the Boeing-built satellites will be among the largest and most powerful ever built and will be based on Boeing's proven technology from predecessor satellites and a quarter century heritage of integrating and deploying L-band systems.

The two North American satellites will be the backbone of an advanced commercial telecommunications network being developed by MSV and its Canadian joint venture partner, MSV Canada. Like the current MSAT satellites, the new satellites will cover Canada and the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Caribbean Basin, as well as Mexico.

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