Iridium in UK orbit

Satellite company signs mobile providers.

Satellite communications company, Iridium, has signed its first UK service provision agreements in preparation for the launch of its global network in September.

Under the terms of the agreement, mobile network provider Orange and mobile service provider UniqueAir will offer customers the ability to make and receive calls anywhere in the world.

"Orange believes that mobile satellite services will play a crucial role in the wire-free future, as mobile telephony becomes the preferred medium of communication throughout the world," commented Hans Snook, group managing director of Orange.

Once the service is launched, customers will have the option to subscribe to the satellite service independent of any existing mobile arrangements.

Orange and UniqueAir will sell the service directly to the consumer by stocking the handsets and roaming technology.

"We are initially targeting the Iridium service at users who require communications in remote areas such as aid workers, oil and gas workers, journalists and business people travelling to far flung places which do not have adequate telecoms infrastructure," explained Liz Fox, media relations manager at Orange. "The handsets can also be used in aeroplanes, which helps gives the service a much wider reach than mobile phones."

The Iridium handsets will be multi-functional allowing users to receive and make cellular as well as satellite phone calls. The phone will simply switch to satellite communications links where there are gaps in coverage by the terrestrial networks.

Calls will be priced at $3-5 (#2-3) per minute, which is more expensive than present mobile calls but competitive compared with the rates charged by international hotels.