MSV, ILS Contract to Launch Next-Generation Satellite
Mobile Satellite Ventures LP and joint venture partner Mobile Satellite Ventures (Canada) announced today that MSV has contracted with ILS International Launch Services, Inc. for the launch in 2009 of one of two high-powered, next-generation satellites, designed to provide seamless, transparent and ubiquitous broadband wireless coverage of North and Central America to consumer electronic devices.
“This launch will usher in a new era in integrated satellite-terrestrial communications where consumers throughout North America can enjoy broadband services at lower costs per bit with the flexibility to support a range of custom IP applications,” said Alexander H. Good, MSV Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. “We have teamed with a world-class provider who combined a fair price and program flexibility, allowing us to deliver ahead of our regulatory milestones.” The ILS agreement is for a single firm launch and includes an option for a second launch.
“Mobile Satellite Ventures is introducing exciting new mobile services in the Americas,” said ILS President Frank McKenna. “ILS is proud to have been selected by MSV to initiate its business expansion by providing Proton launch services. MSV is a new and important customer for us, and we hope to build this relationship into a long-term partnership based on our record of outstanding performance and customer focus.”
ILS plans to launch the MSV spacecraft on a Proton/Breeze M vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Proton/Breeze M vehicle is manufactured by ILS’ Russian partner, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. The Proton vehicle has carried out 325 missions for the Russian government and commercial customers for more than 40 years.
MSV’s satellites, under construction by The Boeing Company, will operate in geostationary orbit over North America from 101 degrees and 107.3 degrees west. The satellites feature 22-meter diameter, elliptical mesh reflectors that will support L-band communication with conventional handsets through a network based on MSV’s patented ancillary terrestrial component technology.
About Mobile Satellite Ventures LP and SkyTerra Communications, Inc.
Today, MSV satellites MSAT-1 and MSAT-2 deliver mobile wireless voice and data services to approximately 200,000 units primarily for public safety, security, fleet management and asset tracking in the U.S. and Canada. MSV is developing a hybrid satellite-terrestrial communications network, which it expects will provide seamless, transparent and ubiquitous wireless coverage of the United States and Canada to conventional handsets. MSV holds the first FCC license to provide hybrid satellite-terrestrial services. MSV plans to launch two satellites for coverage of the United States and Canada, which are expected to be among the largest and most powerful commercial satellites ever built. When completed, the network is expected to support communications in a variety of areas including public safety, homeland security, aviation, transportation and entertainment, by providing a platform for interoperable, user-friendly and feature-rich voice and high-speed data services. MSV is majority owned and controlled by SkyTerra Communications, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SKYT – News). http://www.msvlp.com
About ILS International Launch Services, Inc.
ILS is a joint venture of Space Transport Inc., Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia of Moscow. ILS is incorporated in Delaware in the U.S. and is headquartered in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C. http://www.ilslaunch.com
Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to plans described in this news release. Such statements generally include words such as could, can, anticipate, believe, expect, seek, pursue, proposed, potential and similar words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties relating to the ability of SkyTerra and MSV to raise additional capital or consummate a strategic transaction or deploy the next generation system, as well as the ability of SkyTerra and MSV to execute their business plan. We assume no obligation to update or supplement such forward-looking statements.
