Globalstar announced today that Martel Ehf., of Reykjavik, Iceland, has been awarded exclusive rights to provide Globalstar satellite services in Iceland, Greenland, and the Faeroe Islands. In addition, Martel announced that it will team with Rome-based Elsacom,
an exclusive Globalstar service provider in 24 European countries,
including all of Scandinavia, to provide satellite telephone services
to land-based and maritime users throughout the North Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean regions. Globalstar is expected to commence
commercial service in the fall of 1999.
"We see a tremendous potential market for Globalstar satellite
services in the North Sea and North Atlantic regions," said Johann F.
Kristjansson, general manager of Martel. "Given the similarity of user
operation, and its compatibility with GSM systems, we see Globalstar
as a sort of Super GSM system that will extend GSM services across
Iceland and our other territories, as well as providing quality
services for the maritime industry."
Martel will build and operate a gateway in Iceland that will
interconnect the Globalstar telephone calls with Iceland's existing
telecommunications infrastructure. The company, which has been awarded
operating and business licenses by the Icelandic government, will
offer specialized services for the maritime and offshore oil services
markets. To handle the region's cold and rugged environments, Martel
will contract with handset manufacturers and other vendors to develop
specially modified user terminals. The modified terminals will feature
a position location capability.
"We believe Globalstar is the breakthrough people have been
waiting for," said Kristjansson. "It offers the first truly affordable
mobile phone that will enable remote users to stay in touch with their
offices, families and friends. We believe Globalstar phones will be
especially valuable to maritime users – such as fishing fleets – and
remote users, particularly as a means to dial 911 or 112 emergency
services in the case of an accident or impending disaster. The
position location function will also prove to be extremely useful in
these circumstances."
Terrestrial and maritime subscribers will use handheld user
terminals similar to today's cellular phones, but with dual-mode
capability to enable them to switch from satellite telephony to
conventional cellular telephony as required. Some Globalstar users in
rural and remote areas may make or receive calls through fixed-site
telephones, similar either to phone booths or ordinary wireline
telephones. Subscriber terminals will communicate through a Globalstar
satellite to a gateway, that in turn will connect calls into existing
telecommunications networks.
"The addition of Martel fills in an important coverage area for
Globalstar," said Doug Dwyre, president of Globalstar. "We will now
have ubiquitous coverage of the entire North Atlantic Ocean region –
from Newfoundland to the United Kingdom – and throughout the North Sea
region – from the United Kingdom to Scandinavia."
The Globalstar system, comprising 48 low-earth-orbit (LEO)
satellites and a global network of ground stations, will allow people
around the world to make or receive calls using hand-held,
vehicle-mounted and fixed-site terminals from nearly every corner of
the Earth. In addition to voice services, Globalstar features include
narrow-band data transmission and facsimile services. Globalstar,
which successfully launched eight satellites earlier this year,
expects to initiate service in the third quarter of 1999 with a
constellation of at least 32 satellites.
Globalstar now has service provider agreements in more than 100
countries, covering more than 90% of Globalstar's business plan. Five
Globalstar gateways are being used to control and test the satellite
system, and site work and construction is under way at 20 more gateway
sites around the world.
Martel Ehf., based in Reykjavik, Iceland, began as a provider of
specialized electronics and software services. It then expanded into
fleet tracking and maritime satellite communications, capitalizing on
new satellite and wireless communications services opportunities. It
is committed to developing a variety of data, voice and broadcast
services in conjunction with partner and affiliate companies.
