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14th April 2005 - TerreStar Networks Inc. announced
that it has commenced physical construction of the TerreStar-1
satellite. The contract for design and development of
this powerful transparency class satellite is with Space
Systems/Loral (SS/L). Construction is currently well-underway
at SS/L's facility in California. TerreStar also added
an option that will allow for construction of a second
satellite - TerreStar-2.
TerreStar-1, with an antenna almost sixty feet across,
will be able to communicate with terrestrial base stations
and standard wireless devices (mobile phones). Along
with its joint venture partner TMI Communications Inc.
(TMI), TerreStar will utilize spectrum re-use to deploy
a hybrid network that will provide high quality, cost-effective,
seamless wireless services to urban, rural and remote
regions of North America. TerreStar will be able to
provide economical, fully interoperable, and redundant
wireless services by achieving a very high frequency
re-use factor over the entire network footprint. TerreStar-1
will be the world's most powerful commercial mobile
satellite capable of generating hundreds of spot beams
to provide coverage of the fifty United States, Puerto
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
The TerreStar-1 satellite will operate in a Canadian
orbital slot licensed to TMI. The system will be operational
by the end of 2008 with a planned service life of fifteen
years.
Wharton B. (Zie) Rivers Jr., president and chief executive
officer of TerreStar, said "We have been working
with SS/L over the last several years and are excited
to reach this important milestone. We are confident
that this is the partnership that will deliver us through
construction to launch of the TerreStar satellite system.
Capturing the benefits of an ancillary terrestrial component
(ATC), TerreStar-1 will provide innovative, cost-effective
wireless services to consumers throughout North America."
About TerreStar Networks Inc.
TerreStar Networks Inc. is an emerging provider of advanced
mobile satellite services in North America with plans
to develop, build and operate an innovative and spectrum-efficient
spot beam satellite network in the 2GHz frequency band.
About Space Systems/Loral
Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space &
Communications (OTCBB: LRLSQ), is a premier designer,
manufacturer, and integrator of powerful satellites
and satellite systems. SS/L also provides a range of
related services that include mission control operations
and procurement of launch services. Based in Palo Alto,
California, the company has an international base of
commercial and governmental customers whose applications
include broadband digital communications, direct-to-home
broadcast, defense communications, environmental monitoring,
and air traffic control. SS/L satellites have amassed
more than 1,100 years of reliable on-orbit service.
SS/L is ISO 9001:2000 certified.
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