STOCKHOLM, Sweden-ICO Global Communications, a global mobile satellite communications company, awarded a contract to a consortium consisting of L.M. Ericsson, Hughes Network Systems Inc. and NEC Corp.
The consortium will design, manufacture, construct and install the ground segment of ICO’s network, which consists of 12 satellite access nodes, two network management centers and related ground facilities.
Each SAN complex will consist of five tracking antennas and associated control and switching equipment to provide the space-to-earth interface for ICO’s network.
The SANs will be connected to the existing public telephony and land mobile networks.
The company said installation of the ground system is scheduled to begin in September and will be completed in phases by August 2000.
The initial contract is valued at $600 million, but Ericsson said it expects the contract will increase to accommodate capacity growth and functionality enhancements. During the next 10 years, the company said the contract could reach at least $1 billion.
NEC will supply the five earth station radio frequency transceivers, the network management systems and system integration. Hughes will supply satellite base stations, and Ericsson will supply mobile switching centers.
