Nascent Mobile Satellite Services May Disrupt Cellular Providers

TerreStar-1 satellite

News

On 1 July 2009, TerreStar Networks announced the launch of its TerreStar-1 satellite from the Arianespace launch facility in French Guyana. TerreStar-1 is optimized to deliver IP-based mobile voice and data services to conventional handset designs in conjunction with a terrestrial network.

TerreStar Networks previously demonstrated a multimode 3G/satellite Windows Mobile 6.1 device from Finland-based Elektrobit at the CTIA Wireless conference in April 2009. Infineon and Qualcomm have announced chipset, software and protocol stack support for multimode 3G/satellite devices.

Satellite-based services will use TerreStar's two contiguous blocks of 10MHz spectrum in the 2GHz S-Band range. TerreStar claims coverage will reach some 330 million people in continental US, Canada and outlying territories including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Services will rely on cutting-edge technical advances including dynamically configurable narrow spot beam technology and ground-based beam forming, in addition to advanced terminal chipset and antenna implementations.


Please login or register to view the full article

Login using the panel in the left-hand menu or click here if your company already has a subscription to the CCS Insight Hotline to activate your account.

If you are interested in a subscription the the CCS Insight Hotline please complete the form below and a member of the CCS Insight sales team will contact you.

Start Registration