[Satellite TODAY Insider 12-23-10] Globalstar has received two more of its second-generation satellites from Thales Alenia Space, the mobile operator announced Dec. 22.
    The satellites will undergo preparations and testing for launch by Arianespace on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the first quarter of 2011. The delivery is part of Globalstar’s 24-satellite contract awarded in 2006 to Thales Alenia Space for the design, manufacture and delivery of the second-generation constellation. Globalstar plans to integrate the second-generation satellites with its eight first-generation satellites launched in 2007 to form a 32-satellite constellation.
    Globalstar said it hopes to follow the October launch of six second-generation satellites and leverage its $1 billion investment to both restore the company’s two-way voice and data service and extend satellite operations beyond 2025. Globalstar received $586 million in loan guarantees from Coface, the French government’s export credit agency, to support its efforts and solidify its contract with Thales Alenia Space in March 2009.
    Problems with the S-band antennas on Globalstar’s first-generation fleet have limited the operator’s ability to serve ground customers since the issues were announced in 2007. Last week, the operator completed pre-operational testing of its first new second-generation satellite and processed its first commercial telephone call using the spacecraft.
    “Following successful intensive testing of the new spacecraft by our satellite operations control center and engineering personnel, we are pleased to announce that the first Globalstar commercial call using our new second-generation satellite was processed for a customer calling in Korea, and we are proceeding with testing and deployment of the remaining five satellites,” Globalstar President Tony Navarra said in a statement.
    Globalstar said it expects to take delivery of four additional satellites in early 2011 that will then be shipped to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan where they will undergo preparations and testing for launch.
    The operator expects the advanced constellation to be operational by 2012, providing customers with data speeds of up to 256 kbps in an IP-multimedia subsystem configuration.

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