Globalstar Preps More Birds For Next-Gen Network

Globalstar Inc., which provides mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, government and individuals, is sporting two new second-generation satellites built by Thales Alenia Space.

The operator also expects to take delivery of four additional satellites early next year, and all six orbiters will then be shipped to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where they will undergo preparations and testing for launch via a Soyuz launch vehicle.

The new satellites are designed to support Globalstar’s current lineup of voice, duplex and simplex data products and services. Its advanced constellation, combined with the company’s next-generation ground network (expected to be installed by 2012) is designed to provide Globalstar customers with such enhanced future services as increased data speeds as fast as 256 Kbps in a flexible Internet protocol multimedia subsystem configuration.

Products and services supported are expected to include: push-to-talk and multicasting, such advanced messaging capabilities as multimedia messaging, geo-location services, multi-band and multi-mode handsets, and data devices with GPS integration.