ICO Global Communications Ltd., the London-based global mobile satellite consortium, announced a preliminary service distribution agreement with its Japanese investor syndicate. The group, Satellite Phone Japan Ltd., will be ICO’s exclusive service provider in Japan. ICO said it already has more than 20 similar memoranda of understanding to cover other markets, primarily in Asia, but released no further details. Satellite Phone Japan, a consortium of more than two dozen Japanese companies, is led by international operator KDD and includes domestic operator NTT’s mobile communications unit as well as multiple industrial and financial conglomerates. With holdings of 7.2 percent, the group is one of ICO’s largest investors. (ICO, Phone: 011/44 181/600-1000.)