Press Release

Iridium Chooses Tesacom to Expand Extensive Growth of Global Satellite Communications Services in Brazil

By SpaceRef Editor
October 19, 2007
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In its effort to continue its expansive growth in the Brazilian market, Iridium(R) Satellite announces a strategic partnership with Tesacom do Brasil. Tesacom is a Brazilian telecommunications company. Licenses Tesacom holds include Non Geostationary Satellite Global Mobile Service (SMGS), Multimedia Communications Service (SCM) and Limited Specialized Service (SLE). Tesacom serves markets such as maritime, oil and gas, utilities, agriculture, emergency communications, mining, transportation, government and military.

Iridium is the fastest growing service provider in the mobile satellite services (MSS) sector, and operates the largest commercial — and only global — satellite constellation in the world. Tesacom provides integrated communication solutions to the Brazilian — and other South American — markets, including satellite voice and data transmission, text messaging, localization and monitoring, email and file transfer, network integration, software services, professional, consulting and field support services, as well as Spanish, Portuguese and English 7×24 customer and network support.

Iridium chose Tesacom due to its regional leadership and growth. Tesacom has selected Iridium among other MSS operators to provide satellite services to its customer base. This choice of Iridium will not only provide more reliable service to customers, but also increase the scope of Tesacom’s offerings to include Iridium voice and circuit-switched data products and services.

“Our alliance with Tesacom, a well-respected leader in the South American telecommunications sector, will provide an important boost in offering Iridium services to the growing South American market,” said Greg Ewert, executive vice president, Iridium Satellite. “Tesacom joins the increasing number of distribution partners and customers switching to Iridium due to our reputation for providing excellent service.”

Year-over-year, Iridium voice and circuit switched data traffic originating in Brazil has grown by 62 percent. In the last three months alone, traffic in Brazil has increased by more than 73 percent over the same period last year. In addition to many customers switching to Iridium satellite phones, Iridium is seeing its partners, such as Tesacom, launching new and innovative data applications to exploit the power and global reach of the Iridium network.

“This new relationship represents a strong growth opportunity for Tesacom in the Brazilian market,” said Jose Sanchez Elia, CEO, Tesacom. “Iridium’s unique ‘life-line’ attributes — pole-to-pole coverage, security, availability and reliability — make the system an attractive selection for many of our customers. We are very reassured by Iridium’s proven 99 percent level of call connectivity and we believe our subscribers will take confidence in the company’s Network Quality Guarantee. To give Brazilian customers confidence in this new partnership and reduce the switching cost, Tesacom is offering a limited time Rebate Program for customers that select to change from other MSS service providers and purchase new Iridium terminals from Tesacom.”

About Iridium Satellite

Iridium Satellite LLC (http://www.iridium.com/) is the only provider of truly global satellite voice and data solutions with complete coverage of the earth (including oceans, airways and Polar Regions). Iridium delivers essential communications services to and from remote areas where no other form of communication is available. The Iridium constellation consists of 66 low-earth orbiting (LEO), cross-linked satellites and has multiple in-orbit spares. The constellation operates as a fully meshed network and is the largest commercial satellite constellation in the world. The Iridium service is ideally suited for industries such as maritime, aviation, government/military, emergency/humanitarian services, mining, forestry, oil and gas, heavy equipment, transportation and utilities. Iridium provides service to the U.S. Department of Defense. The company also designs, builds and sells its services, products and solutions through a worldwide network of more than 150 partners.

About Tesacom do Brasil

Tesacom (http://www.tesacom.net/) provides integrated telecommunication solutions for remote locations in South America. Its wide array of solutions include satellite mobile services, fixed satellite multimedia solutions, telemetry, control and SCADA solutions, GPS/GPRS/satellite positioning and monitoring services, software platforms, state-of-the-art high tech equipment, network integration, professional and consulting services, and development of value added applications. Tesacom has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. Tesacom provides services to the main regional government bodies and armed forces as well as regulatory-required monitoring services of fishing fleets, as well as Spanish, Portuguese and English 7×24 customer and network support.

SOURCE: Iridium Satellite LLC

CONTACT: Liz DeCastro of Iridium Satellite LLC, +1-301-571-6257, liz.decastro@iridium.com; Priscila Silva of Ketchum, +55-11-5096-4334 ext. 209, priscila.silva@ketchum.com.br, for Iridium Satellite LLC; or Marcelo Fernandes of Tesacom do Brazil, +55-21-4062-5639, mfernandes@tesacom.net; or Vinicius Traldi of S2 Comunicacao Integrada, +55-11-3457-0229, vtraldi@s2.com.br, for Tesacom do Brasil

SpaceRef staff editor.