ICO has been notified by the U.K. Office of Communications (Ofcom) that the satellite operator must show progress toward the launch of its ICO-P mobile satellite system by June 30 or face loss of its spectrum assignment, Ofcom announced.
ICO was informed in December that it is required to provide evidence that is has entered into binding contracts and procured some of the funding needed to launch the system, or Ofcom may cancel the ITU registration of the ICO-P frequency assignments, the regulator said. ICO Global Communications is based in the Cayman Islands, and the U.K. government acts as the notifying administration for ITU satellite filings for the company.
ICO plans to use a constellation of 12 satellites to provide mobile satellite services but has not placed a satellite in orbit since the 2001 launch of ICO-P F2.