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Federal Communications Commission Approves ORBCOMM's Next-Gen Constellation

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by Staff Writers
Fort Lee NJ (SPX) Mar 31, 2008
ORBCOMM has announced that it has received a modified space station authorization from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approving its next-generation Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation plan. The FCC also granted ORBCOMM's request to renew its space station license for an additional fifteen years, extending the term of the license until the year 2025.

The modified space station authorization issued by the FCC approves ORBCOMM's continued operation of the currently deployed first generation satellites concurrent with the integration of 24 new spacecraft to be deployed in four new orbital planes in the ORBCOMM LEO satellite constellation.

The modified license requires ORBCOMM to place the new satellites in operation over the next six years, and also permits ORBCOMM to deploy replacement satellites over the entire period of the extended space station license term.

The modified space station authorization also approves ORBCOMM's request for additional spectrum for its next-generation satellite constellation, expanding ORBCOMM's uplink and downlink frequency assignments, and adding a new frequency band for downlink operations.

ORBCOMM's next-generation orbital deployment plan is intended to seamlessly augment and enhance the global coverage provided by the current ORBCOMM satellite constellation.

ORBCOMM's new satellites will utilize the additional radio spectrum authorized by the FCC space station license modification, which together with improved technology developed since the deployment of ORBCOMM's first generation satellites, will provide a substantial increase in the capacity of the ORBCOMM network.

ORBCOMM's next-generation satellite constellation design approved by the FCC will allow the company to implement a variety of enhanced subscriber services, while maintaining full backward compatibility with legacy first generation subscriber equipment. The FCC authorization also approves ORBCOMM's operation of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) maritime tracking signal receivers on all new ORBCOMM satellites.

"This is a major milestone accomplishment for ORBCOMM," said Jerry Eisenberg, ORBCOMM's Chief Executive Officer. "The FCC's approval affirms our long-term vision for ORBCOMM and its business."

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