Iridium North America Announces Critical Systems are Y2k Ready
Wednesday July 21, 1:21 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 1999--Ensuring reliable communications for mission-critical operations, Iridium
North America is pleased to announce that crucial components of the Iridium satellite communications system under its control
have been analyzed, upgraded and determined to be ready for the date changeover to the new millenium.
''For companies in areas where Y2K readiness is questionable, Iridium North America offers a system that will keep workers
in touch,'' said Jim Walz, president, Iridium North America. ''By having a communications infrastructure that is ready for the
date changeover on December 31, companies will have one less system to worry about. Reliable communication isn't an
option, it's essential.''
A terrestrial or normal wireless call requires countless points of contact to ensure connection. Any failure at one of these points
could prohibit a traditional wireless call from occurring.
Alternatively, by using the Iridium system, a call follows a shorter path to reach its destination. A satellite call over the Iridium
system touches only the handsets, the gateways and the satellites. These points of contact were designed over the last 10 years
to work in conjunction with each other and have substantially similar components creating redundancy in the system.
Iridium North America has successfully completed its Y2K upgrades and readiness testing of its critical business components.
Motorola's Satellite Communications Group is the provider of the ground station infrastructure and worked closely with Iridium
North America to address Y2K issues. Motorola has indicated that the ground infrastructure components it has provided are
Y2K ready. Iridium North America's business systems and gateway facilities have also been evaluated and have been
determined to be ''Y2K Ready.'' Iridium North America has also obtained representations from Iridium LLC, its satellite
system contractor and gateway business systems vendor, which provides satellite functions, and the provisioning and billing
systems for Iridium North America, that these systems are also ready. Additionally, Iridium North America has obtained
representations from the manufacturers (Motorola, Inc. and Kyocera Corporation) of the hand-held equipment used to access
the Iridium Satellite System that these units are ready. (See Iridium LLC web site (http://www.iridium.com), Motorola web site
(http://www.mot.com) and Kyocera web site (http://www.kyocera.com) for their Y2K ready definitions and status
information).
The term ''Year 2000 Ready'' means that the Iridium North America ground facilities and critical business functions to support
Iridium satellite handset to handset communications made via the Iridium Satellite System, using Motorola, Inc. or Kyocera
Corp. satellite equipment designed to operate with the Iridium Satellite System, will continue to operate as designed before,
during and after January 1, 2000.
This statement is a Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure subject to and as defined in the Federal ''Year 2000 Information and
Readiness Disclosure Act,'' Pub. L. No. 105-271 (1998). This statement of readiness applies to the business and operational
systems in Iridium North America's control. It does not apply to third party business or operating systems, software or
hardware, even if supplied by Iridium North America. It does not cover any systems or portions of systems not controlled by
Iridium North America. Some statements herein contain are republications of Year 2000 statements of third parties and (1) are
not made by Iridium North America, (2) are based upon information supplied by third parties, and (3) have not been
independently verified by Iridium North America. Any statements made on third-party web sites have not been independently
verified by Iridium North America.
Iridium North America is the sole owner and operator of Iridium services in North America. The Iridium System will combine
the worldwide reach of 66 low-earth-orbit satellites with additional access to multiple wireless systems and standards. The
company is actively working with distribution partners to provide customers service that will permit any type of telephone
transmission-voice, paging, data and fax to reach its destination virtually anywhere on Earth, at any time. The Iridium portfolio
will facilitate communications for the traveling professional, residents of rural or underdeveloped areas, disaster relief teams and
others.
Iridium North America is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona and will service the United States, Canada, Bermuda and Puerto
Rico. Iridium North America is backed by three telecommunication industry leaders who are at the forefront in integrating
communication services: Motorola, Inc., Sprint Corporation and Iridium Canada, Inc. For additional information regarding the
Iridium System, please visit the Web site at (http://www.Iridium.com) or call 1-888-Iridium (474-3486). Iridium World
Communications (NASDAQ:IRIDF - news) is the public investment vehicle of Iridium LLC. Iridium and the Iridium logo are
registered trademarks and service marks of Iridium LLC.
Contact:
Karla Williams
Marketing Communications
Iridium North America
602/752-1102
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