Satellite and Mobile Communication leaders join forces

Satellite and Mobile Communication leaders join forces to produce satellite air interface standard Satellite operators Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS) and Euro-African Satellite Telecommunications (EAST) have joined forces with industry leaders Ericsson Mobile Communications, Lockheed Martin and Matra Marconi Space to create a satellite air interface standard named GMSS (Geostationary Mobile Satellite Standard). The GMSS will be developed from GSM, the world-wide cellular standard. This groundbreaking initiative by satellite system operators, satellite manufacturers, terminal vendors and system manufacturers will enable mobile phone users to communicate in all parts of the world where the standard is operating. GMSS will be made available to all parties interested in implementing the standard. Consumers will benefit by being able to use mobile phones that are compatible with several satellite systems in any country where the GMSS is offered. Phone manufacturers will benefit by supplying products in larger volumes to many markets, which will enable economies of scale. GMSS will ensures a more rapid market penetration and allow service providers to attract new subscribers while increasing and developing their service. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Benny Norling, Manager, Product Management Ericsson Mobile Communications Phone: +46 8 404 2863 Peter Bodor, Press Officer Ericsson Mobile Communications Phone: +46 8 46 8 757 00 0 Note to Editors: Satellite mobile communications using mobile phones comparable to the size of today's cellular phones is the starting point of a new era within wireless communications. A number of satellite systems are on the verge of being launched, using different standards. The systems are either global or regional. This initiative links the regional systems together to effectively form a world-wide system. Regional systems already in production or planned will cover Europe, Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, South-East Asia and the Far East. Services using this standard will start in 1999 in South East Asia. Other systems extending the standard are planned to enter service in 2001. The implementation of satellite mobile communications systems will also facilitate wireless communications in remote areas of the world where land based mobile networks have not been deployed. The GMSS will make it possible to use one phone in multiple regional satellite systems - a great benefit to the mobile phone user. PT Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS) is developing the first Geo stationary satellite-based, handheld digital mobile telecommunications system designed exclusively for the Asia Pacific region, in the first phase of operations. Scheduled to commence commercial service in late 1999, ACeS will offer dual- mode (Satellite mode along with GSM / AMPS) voice and data services and global roaming capability to business users at a competitive cost. ACeS is co-owned by Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (NASDAQ: PSNRY) of Jakarta, the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company and Jasmine International Overseas Company Limited of Thailand. ACeS has National Service Providers in 9 countries with additional countries signing up. ACeS's strong group of technology partners includes Lockheed Martin (satellite and subsystems technology) and Ericsson (mobile handsets). For more information on ACeS, please visit http://www.acesy.com. Euro-African Satellite Telecommunications (E.A.S.T.) Limited is the satellite operations company putting in place the EAST system, scheduled for roll-out in 2002. E.A.S.T. are procuring the turnkey system from an industrial consortium led by Matra Marconi Space, who will be supplying the highly advanced and extremely high capacity geo-synchronous satellite which the system utilises. Offering a wide range of communications services to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, E.A.S.T.'s system will provide: mobile services to handheld terminals as an extension to terrestrial GSM cellular operators; fixed services for infrastructure development and extension; support of high data rates for Internet access and business applications. E.A.S.T.'s vision is to use the advanced technologies available today as enabling tools, giving national and regional operators the means to provide affordable telecommunications infrastructure with unparalleled flexibility and quality of service. Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a highly diversified enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's primary businesses span space, telecommunications, electronics, information and services, aeronautics, energy and systems integration. Employing approximately 170,000 people worldwide, Lockheed Martin had 1997 sales surpassing $28 billion. MATRA MARCONI SPACE, the joint venture company formed by LAGARDERE (France) and GEC (UK), is Europe's leading satellite manufacturer. It employs 5,000 people, of whom 2,300 are in France and 2,700 in the UK. With a turnover in 1997 of US$1.5 billion, its activities cover science and Earth observation, military observation and communications, telecommunications and ground infrastructure, launchers, manned flight and orbital infrastructure. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/01/14/19990114BIT00180/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/01/14/19990114BIT00180/bit0002.pdf