The take from TotalTelecom....
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Globalstar Launches European Service
By Vanessa Clark
02 February 2000
Cannes, France -- Globalstar today announced the commercial
launch of its service in nine European countries in conjunction
with one of its strategic partners, Telecommunications par
Satellites Mobile (TE.SA.M), the satellite joint venture between
France Telecom and Alcatel.
A TE.SA.M spokeswoman said it expected 30,000 to 40,000
customers in the first year in Europe. Tony Navarra, president
of Globalstar, said the service had 2000-2500 "friendly"
subscribers globally at present, who are gradually being
converted to paying customers from the end of the month. He
said TE.SA.M will also launch its service with greatly reduced
handset prices and call charges.
The company will introduce two Globalstar services: a
dual-mode service that will offer a regular GSM service with
satellite coverage when out of range; and a single-mode
Globalstar-only service.
It will sell the service through a network of local GSM service
providers including: Mobistar in Belgium; France Telecom
Mobiles, T D Com, Geolink and FTRSI in France; Spain's
Telefonica Mobiles; and Telecel and Optimus in Portugal.
TE.SA.M also plans to launch the service in Andorra, the Czech
Republic, Gibraltar, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Monaco,
Morocco, Poland and Tunisia from the European Globalstar
gateway.
Navarra also said that Globalstar last week raised $285 million
investment - which means the first year of service is now fully
funded. |
