Maurice,
Thank you for your comforting words on QCOM thread. In fact, I went in to buy even more LEAPs two days ago. I am not panic at all. Just frustrated with sideway price movement only. Here is a news article but an old news to most of us.
"Globalstar Confirms Reduction in Earth Station Plans
By Sheridan Nye
11-MAR-98
Globalstar LLP, long rumored to be revising its basic architecture, confirmed it is now looking at a 50-60 station ground segment - just over a third the size of its original plan. But the 48-satellite Mobile Satellite Service project denied it had ever had its heart set on a particular Earth station count.
"The reality at Globalstar is that we have never had any fixed plans about the architecture or number of Earth stations," said a spokesman.
The company originally specified 150 gateways in its first filing with the FCC in 1991. Since then Globalstar has brought over 10 strategic partners on board and the political priorities in host countries have changed, said the spokesman. Governments that had initially insisted on owning their gateways are now actively looking to share the $7-$10 million cost, he said.
But Globalstar, backed by Loral Space and Communications Ltd., Qualcomm Inc. and Alcatel among others, insisted that fewer gateways would not push higher long distance costs onto the consumer. Instead, the lower station build costs would result in lower rates overall.
"Our rates are not a function of the long distance tariffs," said the spokesman.
The system architecture was intended to be flexible, he added, allowing more gateways to be added as demand grows. The $3 million variation in cost reflected the different installations that countries chose to build. One station in Korea includes offices and recreation facilities for staff, whereas Airtouch's installation in the US is operated remotely, he pointed out.
The changing picture on the ground will not affect the space segment, the company said.
As planned, Globalstar will launch its first four satellities on January 26, from Cape Canaveral with a target of 44 in orbit by the end of the year. The final constellation is 40 operational birds with 8 spares. "
Brian H.
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