Updated Gateway status based on BLS shareholder address and some inputs from Valueman provided below.
The BLS address sent to s/h recently named the location of the first nine gateways as US, Korea, China, S. Africa, Argentina, France, Italy, Brazil and Canada. I have a couple of problems with this list: first, it neglects Australia (Dubbo), which is supposed to be already operational; second, AirTouch needs the second Canadian GW near Calgary in order to serve W Canada and NW US. OTH, it would be great if Brazil is really one of the first GWs up. Regarding Australia, maybe Vodaphone won't start commercial ops there until all three Oz GWs are up…that would make a certain amount of sense.
Location, operator, status, reference
1. Clifton (between Dallas and Austin, Texas) AirTouch, Operational, 1
2. Smith Falls (Ontario,Canada), Cancom/AirTouch/Loral, Operational, 2
3. Aussaguel (France), TESAM, Operational,1
4. Bosque Allegre (central Argentina, near Corduba), TESAM, Operational,1
5. Yeoju (S. Korea), DACOM, Operational,1
6. Delareyville (S. Africa), Vodafone, "H/W installed," 3
7. Brazil 1, Globalstar do Brazil, unknown (see Note 5)
8. Beijing, China Telecom, "H/W installed," 3 and Note 1
9. Avezanno (Italy), Elsacom, "H/W installed," 3
10. High River (near Calgary, Alberta, Canada), Cancom/AirTouch/Loral,"H/W installed," (Ref 3) planned oprtnl 11/99 (Ref (6))
11. Finland, Elsacom, unknown (see Note 4), planned oprtnl 12/99 (Ref (6))
12. Chanutagua (Venezuela), TESAM, unknown, 5, planned oprtnl 12/99 (Ref (6))
13. Dubbo (New South Wales, Australia), Vodafone, Operational,1 (see Note 2)
14. Meekatharra (Western Australia), Vodafone, unknown, 4
15. Mt Isa (Queensland, Australia), Vodafone, unknown, 4
16. Puebla (Mexico), JV of AirTouch/Loral/TelAutrey, unknown (see Note 3)
17. Brazil 2, Globalstar do Brazil, unknown Planned oprtnl Spring 2000 (Ref (6))
18. Brazil 3, Globalstar do Brazil, unknown Planned oprtnl Summer 2000 (Ref (6))
19. Chicunta (Columbia), TESAM, unknown, 5
20. Lurin (Peru), TESAM, unknown, 5
21. Ogulbey (near Ankara, Turkey), TESAM, unknown, 5
22. Russia, Globaltel (JV of Globalstar and Ros Telcom), unknown
23. East Africa (Kenya and seven others), MTA, unknown
24. Malyasia, airTouch/SimeDarby, unknown
25. North Atlantic, Martel, Ehf, unknown
27. Central America (Panama and nine others), Globalstar Americas, unknown
28. Saudi Arabia, TATCOM, unknown
29. Indonesia, Airtouch/PTIS, unknown
30. . West Africa, Globaltouch Holdings, unknown
31. Middle East (Gulf states), AlMurjan, unknown
References
1. 11/98 "Backgrounder"
2. 1/5/99(?) Shareholder's letter
3. G* Website, 6/99 (see Note 2)
4. Vodafone press release 6May99
5. TESAM press Release
6. Valueman, post #4990
Note 1. Per 11/98 "Backgrounder", three GWs in addition to Beijing planned
Note 2. G* Website fails to count Dubbo, Australia in its list of "nine GWs operating or with h/w installed;" BLS also didn't count Australia in 5/99 S/H address
Note 3. Per 11/98 Backgrounder, Puebla "recently selected;" in 2/99 cc, BLS said
Mexico would have one of first eight GWs
Note 4. In cc, Elsacom said both its Italian and Finnish GW would be operational by
9/99
Note 5. Said by BLS at 5/99 S/H mtg to be among the first nine GWs operational |
