Related News: (IMHO) We all know who commands and controls Irridium
Teledesic Applauds Launch of Iridium's Global Phone Service
KIRKLAND, Wash. - Nov. 2, 1998 - Teledesic LLC, which is building a next-generation global, broadband "Internet-in-the-Sky," today applauded the commercial launch of Iridium LLC's global satellite-based wireless phone service.
"Iridium and its prime contractor, Motorola, have accomplished a technical feat that's truly amazing," said Teledesic Chairman Craig McCaw, noting that Motorola also is Teledesic's prime contractor. "With Iridium, Motorola has built and deployed the largest, most complex satellite communications system in existence."
The services and target markets of Iridium LLC and Teledesic differ in that Iridium provides narrowband, mobile voice service – the satellite equivalent of cellular service – whereas Teledesic will provide broadband telecommunications services primarily to fixed users – the satellite equivalent of a fiber-optic access link.
Motorola became the prime contractor for the Teledesic system in May and announced it would invest $750 million in cash and development assets in the company. Matra Marconi Space, Europe's leading satellite manufacturer, and The Boeing Company, the world's leading aerospace company, are Teledesic's other founding industrial team members. Teledesic's global service is targeted to begin in 2003. Iridium LLC introduced its service on Nov. 1.
"We're rooting for Iridium to succeed. In a sense, Iridium is a technological precursor to our system. We hope to learn from the Iridium experience as we build our system," said Teledesic co-CEO Steve Hooper. "From Iridium's voice service to Teledesic's future broadband service, we're just now entering the era of ubiquitous communications. The benefits of the information age soon will extend to the far reaches of the globe."
Using a constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites, Teledesic is the first licensed satellite communications network that will enable affordable, worldwide access to "fiber-like" telecommunications services such as broadband Internet access, videoconferencing and interactive multimedia. In September, Teledesic opened its first two European offices – in Brussels, Belgium, and Madrid, Spain – to reinforce its commitment to Europe and to support the company's expanding global efforts.
McCaw and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates are the two primary founding investors in Teledesic. Other investors include Motorola, Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal and Boeing. Teledesic (pronounced "tel-eh-DEH-sic") is a private company based in Kirkland, Wash., a suburb of Seattle.
|
