$3 million bond milestone met and plans rapidly proceeding
Reston, VA, June 27, 2005
Following last month’s FCC authorization allowing Mobile Satellite Ventures (“MSV” or “the Company”) to construct, launch and operate a next generation satellite at 101º W. Longitude, the Company announces the start of its satellite procurement process. This follows the posting of a $3,000,000 bond required by the FCC as part of the authorization process and advances MSV’s vision of enabling ubiquitous wireless communications through the world’s most innovative and capable hybrid satellite-terrestrial network.
MSV will issue a request for proposal (RFP) within the next three months to a number of commercial satellite providers for this next generation satellite, known as MSV-1, and for its Canadian counterpart MSV-2 as well as the previously authorized MSV-SA satellite that is intended to cover South America. This three-satellite configuration will provide coverage throughout the Western hemisphere. The procurement process should result in the selection of a prime contractor for the satellite system before year-end.
“This major milestone puts MSV in a great position to begin fulfilling the promise of ATC,” says Alexander Good, Vice Chairman and CEO of MSV. “We have been focused for a long time in the regulatory area and are looking forward to selecting premier satellite system suppliers to embark on this new phase of next generation ubiquity.”
The new satellites are expected to be the largest and most powerful commercial mobile satellites ever built with antennas more than seventy feet across. In addition to covering North America with hundreds of satellite spot beams, MSV’s satellites will use MSV’s patented Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) technology and Ground Based Beam Forming to deliver a hybrid satellite-terrestrial service that allows the use of wireless devices that are virtually identical to cell phone handsets in terms of size, cost, and functionality. This system architecture will achieve very high frequency reuse and interoperable coverage of urban, rural and remote regions of North America.
About Mobile Satellite Ventures
Mobile Satellite Ventures is developing the next generation hybrid wireless network that will use a powerful satellite constellation working in unison with MSV’s patented Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) technology to deliver seamless wireless services to end-users over standard wireless devices.
MSV is North America’s premier provider of mobile satellite communications. Delivering service since 1996, MSV offers customers a wide choice of wireless data, voice, fax and dispatch radio services via its two MSAT satellites. MSV provides superior capacity and reliability for customers across North America, northern South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Hawaii and in coastal waters.
The MSV investor group includes Motient Corporation (Pink Sheets: MNCP), SkyTerra Communications (OTC: SKYT), TMI Communications, Columbia Capital, and Spectrum Equity Investors
MSV has offices in Reston, VA., and Ottawa, ON. For more information, visit MSV online at www.msvlp.com.
