Globalstar Completes Ground Control Network and Satellite Gateway Upgrades

Oct 6, 2010

Globalstar, Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!gsat/quotes/nls/gsat has successfully completed hardware and software updates to three ground monitoring control centers, the Globalstar data network and system planning center and has installed satellite telemetry and command unit (TCU) upgrades to seven of its satellite gateway ground stations.

TCU upgrades were installed at strategically located Globalstar gateway ground stations in Argentina, Australia, Botswana, France, Korea, and the United States. The upgrades are designed to provide Globalstar with the capability to globally monitor and control the orbital deployment of its new second-generation satellite constellation. The first of four launches of six satellites each is scheduled for October 19, 2010.

"The updates to our ground monitoring control centers, data network and system planning center and the TCU gateway upgrades complete the final ground network installation milestones required for the launch of our new satellites," said Peter Dalton, Chief Executive Officer, Globalstar, Inc. "Once our new constellation is fully deployed next year, we expect to once again reliably provide the world's finest quality mobile satellite voice and fastest mobile satellite handset data services to commercial and government customers around the world. Combined with our affordable and award-winning suite of consumer retail SPOT products, Globalstar will unquestionably offer the world's most extensive lineup of high quality mobile satellite services to the broadest range of commercial and retail consumer customers around the globe."

The telemetry and command unit upgrades were provided and installed by Thales Alenia Space, the manufacturer of Globalstar's new second-generation satellites. Four launches of six satellites each will be conducted by launch services provider Arianespace using the highly reliable Soyuz launch vehicle. The Soyuz has been used to successfully launch Globalstar satellites on eight previous occasions. Globalstar plans to integrate the 24 new second-generation satellites with the eight first-generation satellites that were launched in 2007, to form a 32 satellite constellation.

Once the first six new Globalstar satellites are in operational orbit, the most immediate service improvement will benefit those customers who use the Company's voice and Duplex data services. With each subsequent launch, these customers can expect a progressive return to the high reliability and service quality enjoyed before 2007.