Photo: Solaris Mobile

[Via Satellite 09-05-2014] Solaris Mobile, a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar, announced plans to use the satellite-based GMR-1 3G air interface technology designed and developed by Hughes Network Systems. The pan-European S-band licensee for mobile satellite services with complimentary ground component will use Hughes’ technology to enable wireless mobile devices to communicate over the satellite portion of Solaris Mobile’s network.

The GMR-1 3G technology will enable a new generation of mobile satellite services that can operate over Solaris Mobile’s space segment, supporting advanced and all-IP services providing 3G/4G compatible user services, including multi-media and voice.

“Selection of the ETSI Standard open air interface, GMR-1 3G, which is operational in about a half-million mobile satellite handhelds, allows Solaris Mobile to work with a variety of terminal manufacturers to expand its family of products and services. This is an important step in further advancing Solaris Mobile’s plan to deliver the European Union’s first next-generation, all IP-enabled mobile communications network with an integrated mobile satellite and terrestrial system,” Steven Schaver, president of Solaris Mobile said.