MILPITAS, Calif., June 4, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Globalstar, Inc. (Nasdaq:GSAT), a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, governments and individuals, today announced it has installed a simplex data applique at its new gateway ground station in Singapore. The applique installation completes construction of the gateway which will provide Globalstar coverage to significant parts of Southeast Asia and the surrounding maritime region. Globalstar also announced it has signed a gateway operations agreement with Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel). According to the agreement SingTel will commence operating the Singapore gateway located at its Seletar Satellite earth Station facility as it prepares to launch Globalstar satellite services beginning later this summer.
In September SingTel expects to initially offer Globalstar Simplex data solutions for a variety of logistics, supply chain management, government and maritime asset tracking applications plus personal tracking and messaging products such as the SPOT Satellite Messenger(tm). The new gateway will provide Globalstar satellite coverage throughout Singapore, Malaysia, and significant portions of Indonesia, and much of the surrounding maritime region including the strategic Strait of Malacca. The Strait, one of the world's busiest and most important shipping lanes, joins the Indian and Pacific Oceans and represents the shortest sea route between the heavily populated countries of China, India and Indonesia. SingTel plans to offer Globalstar's entire suite of next-generation advanced satellite voice and data solutions following the launch of the Globalstar second-generation constellation which is expected to begin in the second half of 2009.
"Southeast Asia contains some of the fastest growing economies in the world and we are extremely pleased that SingTel will soon be offering Globalstar's high quality and reliable satellite Simplex data solutions throughout much of the region," said Jay Monroe, Chairman and CEO of Globalstar, Inc. Mr. Monroe added, "The completion of this gateway plus our recent installation of the Simplex data applique in Brazil further demonstrate our global commitment to construct and enhance Globalstar facilities in key strategic regions and expand the geographic territory of where we can market all of our high value wireless products and services."
Mr Titus Yong, SingTel's Vice President for Satellite, said, "SingTel is committed to transforming the way satellite operators do business with innovative value-added services and applications that reduce costs and boost business productivity. Our customers will gain an important competitive edge with the advanced track and trace solutions we offer through our collaboration with Globalstar." Mr. Yong added, "The agreement with Globalstar further strengthens Singapore's position as a global satellite hub. Globalstar's gateway infrastructure, installed at our Seletar Satellite earth Station facility, will allow them to extend their coverage into Southeast Asia."
The Simplex data applique installed at the new Singapore gateway is used to provide Globalstar Simplex data services. Globalstar's Simplex offering is a low cost, one-way satellite data service that permits customers to use satellite modems and integrated back office management solutions to track mobile assets -- such as vehicles, trailers, cargo containers and maritime vessels, using GPS or other location-based software. It can also provide personal tracking and messaging solutions for commercial and recreational customers using products such as the SPOT Satellite Messenger. Simplex data service can also be used for a wide variety of industrial and security applications to monitor and send information from fixed assets, such as environmental measuring instruments, utility meters, or report the state of various mobile sensor devices and their locations.
About Globalstar, Inc.
Globalstar offers satellite voice and data services to commercial and recreational users in more than 120 countries around the world. Globalstar's products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, simplex and duplex satellite data modems and flexible service packages. Many land based and maritime industries benefit from Globalstar with increased productivity from remote areas beyond cellular and landline service. Global customer segments include: oil and gas, government, mining, forestry, commercial fishing, utilities, military, transportation, heavy construction, emergency preparedness, and business continuity as well as individual recreational users. Globalstar data solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data monitoring and SCADA applications.
For more information regarding Globalstar, please visit Globalstar's web site at www.globalstar.com
About Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.
SingTel is Asia's leading communications group with operations and investments in more than 20 countries and territories around the world. Serving both the corporate and consumer markets, it is committed to bringing the best of global communications to customers in the Asia Pacific and beyond. With significant operations in Singapore and Australia (through wholly-owned subsidiary SingTel Optus), the Group provides a comprehensive portfolio of services that include voice and data services over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms.
In Singapore, SingTel has had more than 125 years of operating experience and has played an integral part in the development of the city as a major communications hub in the region. In Australia, Optus serves more than six million customers. It has driven the competition as the challenger brand and led the way in technological innovations and breakthroughs.
Over the years, SingTel has grown to be a global player with a strong regional heritage. With one of the most extensive and advanced telecommunications infrastructure, the Group offers unparalleled reach in Asia and beyond.
The Group's other major investments in the region include Advanced Info Service of Thailand, the Bharti Telecom Group of India, Globe Telecom of the Philippines, PBTL of Bangladesh and Telkomsel of Indonesia. Together with its regional partners, SingTel is Asia's largest multi-market mobile operator, serving more than 100 million customers in seven markets.
Safe Harbor Language for Globalstar Releases
This press release contains certain statements such as, "In September SingTel expects to initially offer Globalstar Simplex data solutions for a variety of logistics, supply chain management, government and maritime asset tracking applications," that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including demand for our products and services, including commercial acceptance of our new Simplex products, including the SPOT Satellite Messenger, and the ability to retain and migrate our two-way communications services subscribers to our second-generation constellation when it is deployed; problems relating to the construction, launch or in-orbit performance of our existing and future satellites; including the effects of the degrading ability of our first-generation satellite constellation to support two-way communication; problems relating to the ground-based facilities operated by us or by independent gateway operators; our ability to attract sufficient additional funding to meet our future capital requirements including deployment of our second-generation constellation; competition and its competitiveness vis-a-vis other providers of satellite and ground-based communications products and services; the pace and effects of industry consolidation; the continued availability of launch insurance on commercially reasonable terms, and the effects of any insurance exclusions; changes in technology; our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified personnel; worldwide economic, geopolitical and business conditions and risks associated with doing business on a global basis; and legal, regulatory, and tax developments, including changes in domestic and international government regulation.
Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, and we undertake no obligation to update any such statements. Additional information on factors that could influence our financial results is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.