Lockheed Wins Contract for Inmarsat Globalized Mobile Satellite Network

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Jan. 16, 2007/Satnews Daily/ ― Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has received a $36.5 million contract from Inmarsat (LONDON: ISAT.L) to develop technology that will enable Inmarsat to expand its market reach into the commercial handheld mobile satellite service market.

Under the two-year contract, Lockheed will deliver and install three Network Control Center/Gateways to Inmarsat that provide connectivity to public terrestrial networks.

Inmarsat said its fully modernized, global network to be implemented in 2008 will operate via satellite and will provide Inmarsat's customers with cellular service in even the most challenging locations. The network will rely on the existing Inmarsat I-4 Satellites and dual-mode Global System for Mobile Communications/Satellite handheld terminals.

“Our work on this contract leverages Lockheed Martin's expertise in systems integration of satellite and cellular communication systems adding a new capability that will enhance Inmarsat's time to market and service goals,” said Gordon McElroy, vice president of Lockheed’s Commercial and Federal Networks Division.

Rupert Pearce, group general counsel of Inmarsat, who is leading Inmarsat's voice service project cited Lockheed’s successful partnership with ASIA Cellular Satellite Network (ACeS) on the GEO-Mobile Radio (GMR-2) air interface from which Inmarsat intend to evolve a next generation suite of products and solutions focused on voice services.

“We look forward to bringing a modernized, global service to market in the fourth quarter of 2008,” he said.

In the late '90s, Lockheed Martin was instrumental in developing the ACeS network, on which the current system operates. The existing handheld satellite phone network will continue on the ASIA Cellular satellite network until the global system being developed under this contract is completed in 2008.

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