Satellite Phone Forum

[Anjana Rajan]

Any update to Globalstar problems of loosing signals. I'm preparing to rent a satellite phone before I come out, and Globalstar is half the price of the Iridium.

[seguret]

Author: GUSA Marketing Team Reference Number: AA-00221 Views: 17718 Created: 2010-10-14 05:35 Last Updated: 2010-10-19 01:38 0 Rating/ 0 Voters

IMPORTANT INFORMATION Concerning the Globalstar Satellite Constellation
Two-Way Voice and Duplex Data Services - Temporary Limitations

As previously announced, many Globalstar satellites are experiencing an anomaly resulting in degraded performance of the amplifiers for the S-band satellite communications antenna. The anomaly is adversely affecting two-way voice and data services. Customer service continues to be available, but at certain times at any given location it may take substantially longer to establish calls and the duration of calls may be limited. Until the new second-generation Globalstar satellite constellation is operational, Globalstar is offering its customers a web-based Call Times Tool, on its customer Internet sites, which subscribers may use to predict when one or more unaffected satellites will be overhead at any specific geographic location.

Simplex Data and Asset Tracking Services – Fully Operational
The Globalstar constellation is completely stable and fully operational in supporting Globalstar Simplex data satellite products and asset tracking services. Recent monitoring tests indicate that the Simplex data network is currently operating at a successful transmission rate of greater than 99 percent. And because Globalstar's Simplex data products are also designed to work with the second-generation satellite constellation, they are expected to provide customers with years of high quality reliable service well into the next decade and beyond.

2007 Spare Satellites Launches
In 2007 Globalstar launched eight spare satellites for its existing constellation with a view to reducing the gaps in its two-way voice and data services pending commercial availability of its second-generation satellite constellation. These eight satellites will also be integrated into the Company's second-generation constellation which was contracted for in late 2006.

Fall 2010 Globalstar Second Generation Satellite Update
Manufacturing of the second - generation satellites continues and constellation deployment is expected to begin shortly with the first launch of six new satellites scheduled for October 19, 2010. Globalstar has taken delivery of the first six satellites from Thales Alenia Space and the new spacecraft are currently undergoing pre-launch integration and testing at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Khazakstan.

Four launches of six satellites each will be conducted by launch services provider Arianespace using the highly reliable Soyuz launch vehicle. The Soyuz has been used to successfully launch Globalstar satellites on eight previous occasions. Globalstar plans to integrate the 24 new second-generation satellites with the eight first-generation satellites that were launched in 2007, to form a 32 satellite constellation.

Once the first six new Globalstar satellites are in operational orbit, the most immediate service improvement will benefit those customers who use the Company’s voice and Duplex data services. With each subsequent launch, these customers can expect a progressive return to the high reliability and service quality enjoyed before 2007.

The second-generation satellites are designed to support, and are compatible with, Globalstar’s current lineup of voice, Duplex and Simplex data products and services including the Company’s lineup of SPOT retail consumer products. The advanced constellation combined with the Company’s next-generation ground network, expected to be installed by 2012, is also designed to provide Globalstar customers with enhanced future services featuring increased data speeds of up to 256 kbps in a flexible Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) configuration. Products and services supported are expected to include: push-to-talk and multicasting, advanced messaging capabilities such as multimedia messaging or MMS, geo-location services, multi-band and multi-mode handsets, and data devices with GPS integration.

For the latest updates regarding the launch of the new satellites please visit the following link. www.globalstar.com