[Satellite Today – 5-20-08] Hughes Network Systems will provide the next-generation ground network equipment and software upgrades for Globalstar‘s satellite gateway ground stations, Globalstar announced May 19.
    Under the contract, valued at $100.8 million, Hughes also will design and supply Globalstar with satellite interface chips that will provide satellite capability to various handsets, fixed units and modem-equipped transceivers and transmitters. Globalstar also expects to provide these chips to manufacturers of terrestrial wireless devices, which will allow Globalstar to cut the prices to as little as $10 per chip, the company said.
    The ground network is designed to support speeds of 1 megabit per second to subscriber equipment and 256 kilobits per second to the satellites using all IP implementation.
    "By signing this agreement we have completed our second-generation system design and operations plan, paving the way for our next-generation advanced wireless services,” Jay Monroe, Chairman and CEO of Globalstar, said in a statement. “In addition, this agreement not only provides us with options to fully outfit our entire ground segment, but it also provides us with continued compatibility with our first-generation products plus unique flexibility for upgrades.”