ICO: FCC authorizes USEI to operate ICO ground station in US to support ICO satellite control
Presswire - July 06, 1999 13:15
M2 PRESSWIRE-6 July 1999-ICO: FCC authorizes USEI to operate ICO ground station in United
States to support ICO satellite control (C)1994-99 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Federal Communication Commission has authorized U.S.
Electrodynamics Inc. (USEI), the international earth station provider, to operate the satellite access
node (SAN) in Brewster, Washington, of ICO Global Communications for tracking, telemetry and
control of ICO satellites.
The authorization constitutes a major milestone for ICO, the global mobile communications company,
in the development of its ground network. The FCC recently granted temporary authorization for
experimental test use of ICO handsets and other user terminals in the 2GHz bands with the ICO
satellites.
The first ICO satellite is scheduled to be launched later this year from Baikonur in Kazakhstan aboard
a Proton rocket. [Hmmm....]
The FCC said its SAN decision would eventually be subject to the outcome of proceedings for
authority to provide mobile satellite services in the 2GHz band in the United States, but that conditional
authority was granted immediately.
The FCC approval allows USEI to provide support essential for in-orbit control of the ICO satellite
constellation. The Brewster SAN site is one of six ICO SANs around the world to be used for this
purpose, all of which are operational. The other TT&C sites are in South Africa, Chile, Germany,
Australia and India. An additional four ICO SANs are near completion elsewhere.
ICO Chief Executive Officer Richard Greco hailed the USEI SAN license grant from the FCC as a
key development in ICO's movement toward the launch of satellite-enabled mobile telephone service.
"This is a great step forward for us in an important market," Greco said. "We have more challenges
ahead, but our team of partners and investors will prove to be up to the task. USEI has been a
tremendous contributor to the success of this application to the FCC."
USEI President Dan Murphy said he was pleased to be part of the ICO program. "The satellite phone
is a big part of the future, and we want to be there," Murphy said. We are glad to be involved with
ICO at every level - from inception to implementation of its earth-space communications links. It's very
exciting to see ICO moving steadily toward its launch of service."
The Brewster SAN will use C-band frequencies at 5179.5-5181.5MHz and 5242.5-5244.5MHz for
Earth-to-space TT&C transmission, and 7011-7013MHz and 7071.9-7073.9 for space-to-Earth
TT&C transmission.
Editor's Note:
ICO Global Communications (Nasdaq: ICOGF) was established in January 1995 as a private
company to provide global mobile personal communications services by satellite, including digital
voice, data, fax and messaging services. It has raised approximately US$3 billion to date from equity
and debt investors. Among its investors are more than 60 strategic partners and investors, comprising
telecommunications and technology companies from over 50 markets around the world. In July of
1998, ICO was listed on Nasdaq in New York and became a public company.
Its satellite services are expected to be used by international and domestic cellular users who roam
outside areas covered by compatible cellular networks from business, industry and government
organizations, mining, transportation, aeronautical, maritime, media and other sectors, as well as
residents of rural and remote areas lacking adequate local communications.
ICO's services will be based on a new generation of pocket-sized mobile phones that will allow users
to make and receive calls at any time, anywhere in the world. The handsets will be dual mode, capable
of working on satellite, cellular and PCS networks. Using their handsets, customers will be able to
roam between ICO and mobile networks around the world. If no cellular network is available, the
handset will roam to ICO's satellite network to offer customers mobility and accessibility for their
communications needs. Services will be available to a wide range of users - from people living and
working in remote rural areas to the international business traveler. In addition, ICO will offer services
to the road transport, maritime and aeronautical sectors.
U.S. Electrodynamics Inc. is a U.S.-based domestic and international carrier providing video,
voice/data, internet and engineering support service.
CONTACT: Joe Tedino/Rebecca Dittmar, ICO Global Communications Tel: +1 202 887 8111 Fax:
+1 202 887 0889 e-mail: joseph.tedino@ico.com e-mail: rebecca.dittmar@ico.com Dan Murphy,
President, U.S. Electrodynamics, Inc. Tel: +1 509 689 6000 Fax: +1 509 698 3798 e-mail:
danmurphy@usei.com |
