PRESS RELEASE:Globalstar Telecom
Opens New Gateway
( BW)(NY-GLOBALSTAR)(GSTRF) Globalstar Officially Opens
Twelfth Gateway
Business & High Tech Editors
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2000--
Finland's Minister of Transportation and Communication
Places First Official Satellite Phone Call
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) 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.
--30--tia/ny*
CONTACT: Loral Space & Communications, New York
Mac Jeffery, 212/338-5383
KEYWORD: NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL EUROPE
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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