The Iridium System in New Zealand
| CORPORATE HISTORY [ 1985 | 1987 | 1988 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 ] The Iridium vision is quite succinct: Freedom to communicate. Anytime, anywhere. Making this vision become reality, however, required 10 years of development and hard work. The following time line provides the most important milestones in the creation of the Iridium system. 1985 Unable to place a cellular call to the United States while vacationing in the Caribbean, Karen Bertiger--wife of Motorola executive Bary Bertiger--convinces her husband of the need for a mobile wireless system that would allow people to place calls from any location in the world. 1987 The concept for the Iridium system is proposed by Motorola engineers. At the heart of the system, they envision a constellation of low-Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites that could be built, launched, and replaced economically. Research and development begins. 1988 The Iridium gateway concept is developed by Motorola engineers Ray Leopold, Ken Peterson, and Bary Bertiger. The satellite constellation will be connected to existing terrestrial telephone systems through a number of gateway ground-stations. 1990 The Iridium system is announced at simultaneous press conferences in Beijing, London, Melbourne, and New York. Iridium unveils its revolutionary concept for global personal communications. The Iridium system will unite existing terrestrial telephone networks, using the satellite constellation as a base. 1991 Motorola establishes Iridium, Inc. as a separate company to develop and deploy the network. The U.S. government reserves radio frequencies for the Iridium low-Earth orbit satellites. 1992 The World Administrative Radio Conference in Torremolinos, Spain takes the first regulatory step toward building the Iridium system by determining that a global regulatory body is the proper forum for determining worldwide radio spectrum rights. An experimental license for the Iridium system is granted by the U.S. FCC, a body regulating the telecommunications industry. Iridium, Inc. signs a US $3.37 billion contract with Motorola for system development, construction, and delivery. Motorola becomes the prime contractor for the Iridium system, supplying satellites, gateways, and communication products. Iridium proposes multi-mode phones to offer access to existing cellular systems, as well as to the satellite constellation. 1993 Iridium completes the first round of financing, securing US $800 million in equity. The first meeting of the board of directors of Iridium, Inc. takes place. 1994 Iridium, Inc. successfully completes the second round of equity financing, bringing the total raised capital to US $1.6 billion. The FCC issues a Report and Order prior to granting an operating license. The waiver allows Motorola to procure long-lead hardware for system construction. 1995 The FCC grants an operational license for the Iridium system. The date for commercial activation of the Iridium system is set for 1998. Iridium, Inc. files a registration statement with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Iridium, Inc. board of directors adopts the Iridium Global Ownership program. A generic design is created for the gateway ground-stations and 11 gateway contracts are signed. In October, the first Iridium satellite flight bus is delivered by Lockheed Martin to the Motorola Satcom facilities in Chandler, Arizona, USA. 1996 US $315 million in additional investor funding is secured, bringing the total project support to US $1.9 billion. Iridium LLC selects Chase and BZW as arrangers of senior credit facilities and to help complete US$750 million bank credit facility. The first complete Iridium satellite is delivered. The first gateway is inaugurated in Matsumoto City, Japan. Construction on the Iridium Satellite Network Operations Center, located in Virginia near Washington, DC, USA, is completed. Iridium LLC agrees with Globalstar and Odyssey to a frequency-use plan allowing them to cooperate in efforts to secure global authorizations for radio frequency spectrum use. Dr. Edward F. Staiano is appointed Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Iridium LLC. 1997 Iridium places 47 satellites into orbit. Iridium receives authorization to proceed with the construction and testing of nine gateways. Iridium board members receive the first Iridium pager message delivered by orbiting satellites. Kyocera signs an agreement to develop and market wireless phones for the Iridium system. Iridium signs PT Bakrie Communications Corporation as a new investor to develop Iridium services in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Iridium offers a total of US $240 million in stock through an initial public offering. Iridium World Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ: IRIDF) is established. Iridium LLC completes $800 million in debt financing. The company is now fully funded through commercial operation. Iridium LLC selects AlliedSignal as its aeronautical strategic partner to develop global wireless telecommunications for aircraft passengers and crew. 1998 Sprint Telecenters is selected to manage Iridium global customer care. An additional $350 million in high yield bonds is secured. Iridium completes the constellation of 66 satellites with 100% launch success. After extensive testing, the Iridium system becomes commercially active on November |
Chairman, Iridium
LLC 
LEO MONDALE
With 66 satellites forming a
cross-linked grid above the Earth, the Iridium system is the
first low-Earth-orbiting system for wireless telephone service.
Only 780 km (485 miles) high, these satellites work differently
from those at a much higher orbit (36,000 km) in two major ways.
First they're close enough to receive the signals of a handheld
device; and second, they act like cellular towers in the sky -
where wireless signals can move overhead instead of through
ground-based cells.
Located in key
regions around the world, Iridium gateways interconnect
the Iridium constellation with public switched telephone
networks, making communication possible between Iridium
phones and any other telephone in the world. Gateways are
owned and operated by Iridium LLC investors.
The Iridium System in New Zealand
ROCOM TO OFFER IRIDIUM SATELLITE PHONES IN NZ
(Tuesday, 30 March 1999)
The creator of the world's first truly global mobile satellite communications network, Iridium, announced today it had signed a service provider agreement with ROCOM Communications Limited in New Zealand which will offer customers access to Iridium's network and to Iridium products through its nine communication centres around New Zealand.
The deal consolidates Iridium's presence in New Zealand and builds on the service provider agreement already signed with New Zealand maritime communications specialist Wrights Limited.
Since commercial service activation in November 1998, Iridium has been extending its reach through the Pacific and has signed roaming or service provider agreements with Telstra and Optus in Australia and with national carriers servicing Vanuatu, Palau, Tahiti, and Kiribati.
"ROCOM has been at the cutting edge of telecommunications in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific for 10 years now and we are delighted to have formed a partnership with an innovative company that understands the power and versatility of the Iridium system," said Mr Carlton Jennings, CEO Iridium South Pacific.
The agreement gives ROCOM the ability to extend its services to truly mobile hand-held global communication and means customers in New Zealand will have easy access to Iridium's World Satellite, World Roaming, World Page and World Calling Card products and services. Rocom will also provide billing and customer care services to its customers.
"We have experienced steady growth for our Satellite Division and we believe that now with Iridium we can offer our customers a service that revolutionises where and how they can communicate," said Mr Andrew Wilson, Satellite Business Director of ROCOM.
Iridium's service is based on 66 low earth orbiting satellites which allow customers for the first time to call to and from anywhere on earth at any time. Iridium's products also offer customers the ability to use either satellite communication or to tap in to existing ground-based cellular systems around the world.
Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, Iridium South Pacific is a joint venture between PT Bakrie Communications Corporation of Indonesia, DDI Corporation and Kyocera Corporation of Japan.
With Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Carlton R Jennings at the helm, Iridium South Pacific manages Iridium LLC's business operations in the South Pacific territory.
The Iridium South Pacific territory comprises: Amercian Samoa; Australia (including Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island, and McDonald & Heard Islands); Cook Islands; Fiji; French Polynesia; Federated States of Micronesia; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Nauru; New Caledonia; Niue; New Zealand; Palau; Pitcairn; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tokelau; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu; and Wallis & Futuna.
Iridium South Pacific markets and sells Iridium services in the region and manages local dealers, direct service providers and roaming service partners. The company is responsible for sales, account activation, deactivation, and maintenance, and billing for 25 countries and territories in the South Pacific, serving a 22 million km area and a total combined population of 23.5 million.
Iridium South Pacific will use the Iridium technical gateway in Bangkok, Thailand to manage the flow of South Pacific call traffic between satellites and earth.
EXECUTIVE PROFILES :
Carlton Jennings
Prior to his appointment as CEO of Iridium South Pacific, Carlton Jennings held a number of senior management positions with Iridium LLC based in Washington, DC. Most recently, he was Director of Marketing and Strategy for the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to this, he was Director of Business Operations for Iridium Inc.
Before joining Iridium, Mr. Jennings worked in senior roles for a number of Government organisations as a Staff Director working with the Japanese Government, based in Yokohama, Japan, and International Program Manager for the US Government.
Carlton Jennings began his career in the Asia Pacific Region as a Liaison Officer to the New Zealand Government.
Carlton Jennings holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy, a Master of Arts (International Relations) from Georgetown Catholic University, and a Master of Arts (International Public Policy) from John Hopkins University.
Chris Pearce
Chris Pearce joined Iridium South Pacific in November 1998. In his role as Vice President of Marketing and Sales he is pivotal to the development of the company's profile in the dynamic global communications market and to shaping strategies to attract and retain customers who know they need to communicate anywhere, anytime on Earth.
Before joining Iridium South Pacific, Mr Pearce held senior positions with Telstra Corporation Limited as General Manager Telstra Retail Sales, Sales Director for Telstra NSW Retail, Banking and Finance and Manager for Telstra MobileNet Direct Sales.
Most recently he was Vice President of Telecommunications and Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing at United Telecommunications, now known as United Customer Management Solutions (UCMS) Pty LTD.
Prior to entering the telecommunications industry, Mr Pearce built a career over more than a decade in the consumer electronics and entertainment sector, primarily with Yamaha.
He holds a Bachelor of Business from Monash University, is an Associate Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and a Justice of the Peace. Chris has achieved public office serving as a Councillor in one of Victoria's largest metropolitan Local Government municipalities.
Iridium South Pacific Articles
International Communication Companies
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Iridium South Pacific
Vice President Marketing and Sales Iridium South Pacific
