Satellite communications firm TerreStar has successfully launched what is believed to be the world’s largest communications satellite, which will provide mobile broadband coverage across North America.
Launched by Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana, yesterday, the satellite – called ‘TerreStar-1’ – is the foundation for TerreStar’s satellite communications network targeted at government users, emergency responders, enterprises and those in rural communities without conventional mobile network coverage. The all-IP-based mobile broadband network supports voice, data and video services. “We are creating a new paradigm in mobile broadband network services and devices that will leverage our integrated satellite and terrestrial communications components to enable true ubiquity and reliability – anywhere in the United States and Canada,” said Dennis Matheson, CTO of TerreStar.
TerreStar’s network will operate in two 10MHz blocks of contiguous MSS spectrum in the 2GHz band throughout the US and Canada, and claims to have a spectrum footprint that covers a population of nearly 330 million.
The firm has already launched a handset compatible with the network in collaboration with partner firm, EB (Elektrobit). Launched at the CTIA Wireless trade show in April, the ‘TerreStar smartphone’ claims to be the world’s first quad-band GSM and tri-band WCDMA/HSPA smartphone with integrated all-IP satellite-terrestrial voice and data capabilities. TerreStar has a nationwide roaming agreement in place with AT&T in the US.