Big Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Mobile Satellite Service (MSS)

• Iridium

  • First satellite launch: Delayed from January 1997
  • Commercial service: Late 1998?
  • 66 satellites (5-8 years lifetime)
  • 420 nautical mile orbit
  • 16 dB link margin to handset
  • Dual-mode GSM/Iridium phones planned
  • $5 billion estimated system cost

• Several competing systems

  • Globalstar
  • Odyssey

“The guy who's going to pay for this system is the guy who doesn't look at his phone bill.” Iridium CEO, Dr. Edward Staiano

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