Skybridge LP has received a license in France to deploy its 80 low-Earth-orbiting (LEO) satellite constellation with associated ground segment to provide broadband Internet access and other multimedia services.

The decision to grant the license comes after a consensus was reached at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) Preparatory Meeting on the technical rules allowing LEO systems to operate in Ku-band. The ITU is expected to confirm the guidelines at the WRC-2000 conference in May.

Skybridge plans to provide telecom operators and service providers with broadband capacities, which will, in turn, allow them to offer high-speed data and multimedia services to residential and business users. The company is backed by Alcatel [ALA] and its industrial partners and shareholders include Boeing [BA] and Loral Space & Communications [LOR].