Globalstar Officially Opens Twelfth Gateway
Finland's Minister of Transportation and Communication Places First Official Satellite Phone Call
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2000-- Globalstar Northern Europe today officially opened a new gateway in Karkkila, Finland, now extending the range of Globalstar's mobile satellite telephone service across Scandinavia and the Baltic nations. As part of the opening ceremonies, the first official phone call handled by the new gateway was made by Mr. Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Finland's Minister of Transportation and Communication.
The Karkkila installation becomes the twelfth gateway to initiate operations in the continuing roll-out of Globalstar service around the world. It joins existing gateways in France and Italy to provide coverage across virtually all of Europe. The new gateway will continue to be used to support friendly user trials over the next several weeks. Full commercial service from this gateway will be introduced, initially in Finland, in early April.
Mr. Heinonen's inaugural call was made to Mr. Petri Leskinen and Mr. Kristian Heinila, two champion Finnish sailors who, at the time of the call, were in training off the coast of France. In speaking to the two sailors, who will be representing Finland at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Mr. Heinonen commented on the excellent voice quality of the system.
Globalstar Northern Europe, which is the provider of Globalstar service in seven northern European nations, is a joint venture between Radiolinja Group of Finland and Elsacom of Italy. Radiolinja Group includes some of the leading mobile telephone services in northern Europe. Oy Radiolinja Ab, the group's Finland division, is the leading cellular service provider in Finland and was the first company in the world to offer commercial GSM cellular service. Elsacom, based in Rome, is a Finmeccanica company specializing in the provision of fixed and mobile satellite telecommunication services and will provide Globalstar service in 27 countries.
The Globalstar system is designed to provide affordable satellite-based digital voice services to a broad range of subscribers and users. Globalstar will meet the needs of cellular users and global travelers who roam outside of cellular coverage areas, as well as residents of under-served markets who will use Globalstar's fixed-site phones to satisfy their needs for basic telephony.
Globalstar, led by founding partner Loral Space & Communications, is a partnership of the world's leading telecommunications service providers and equipment manufacturers, including co-founder Qualcomm Incorporated, Alenia, China Telecom (HK), DACOM, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, Elsacom (a Finmeccanica Company), Hyundai, Qualcomm Incorporated, TE.SA.M (a France Telecom/Alcatel company), Space Systems/Loral, and Vodafone AirTouch. For more information, visit Globalstar's web site at www.globalstar.com.
Loral Space & Communications (NYSE:LOR - news) is the managing partner and is the largest equity owner of Globalstar. Loral is a high technology company that concentrates primarily on satellite manufacturing and satellite-based services, including broadcast transponder leasing and value-added services, domestic and international corporate data networks, global wireless telephony, broadband data transmission and content services, Internet services, and international direct-to-home satellite services. For more information, visit Loral's web site at www.loral.com.
Leo, I posted it because Yahoo archives the articles after a month and they are inaccessible. Thanks, Dave |
