Satellite phone service starts in Central Asia

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Globalstar, a global mobile satellite service, has initiated service throughout Central Asia, including Afghanistan, through its Russian service provider, GlobalTel. The company said this adds to phones already in use by medical and other aid organizations, with clear, reliable service now available from Caspian Sea to Mongolia.

"We have already received calls from users from as far away as western Mongolia, telling us how amazed they are by the voice quality of our service," said Olof Lundberg, chairman of Globalstar. "In some cases, they say the clarity exceeds any wireless service they have ever experienced in those areas, including services using larger, stationary satphone equipment."

He added that for the first time ever, clear, CDMA-quality wireless phone service is available in this part of the world, and it is already being used to support medical and humanitarian programs in Afghanistan.

Globalstar service, including data service, in Central Asia was made possible by extending service coverage from GlobalTel gateways in western and central Russia. Globalstar handheld phones have already been provided to a number of international aid organizations who are using them in support of emergency medical and recovery operations in Kabul and elsewhere in the region.

Used by news media

The company said that news media organizations have also begun using Globalstar service in this region, and international roaming capability has already been established, allowing users from North America, Europe and other geographies to travel to Central Asia and use their Globalstar phones immediately. 

Globalstar is a partnership of  leading global telecommunications service providers and equipment manufacturers, including co-founders Loral Space & Communications and Qualcomm Incorporated; Alenia; China Telecom (HK); DACOM; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace; Elsacom; Hyundai; TE.SA.M (a France Telecom/Alcatel company); Space Systems/Loral; and Vodafone Group Plc. 

GlobalTel, Globalstar's service provider in Russia, is a partnership led by OAO Rostelecom, which is Russia's largest national operator, offering domestic and international communications.

Two weeks ago, Globalstar Telecommunications Limited began trading on  Nasdaq OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol GSTRF.

In late October, Qualcomm demonstrated a set of aviation safety solutions using the Globalstar Satellite Communications System and onboard hardware incorporating CDMA technology. The MDSS Globalstar Communications System (MDSS), developed by Qualcomm through the Globalstar System, offers capabilities for enabling aviation safety services by providing high-speed (up to 128 kbps), high-quality digital voice and data communications.