The UK Department of Trade & Industry has formally invited applications to tender for the six licences on offer to provide one-way satellite communications services: the licences will be valid for 12 years and allow each licensee to uplink from up to three separate sites; Lord Young, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has approved the Hull public telephone operator to provide uplinks for satellite services, and details on the class licence for running receive-only downlinks are to be issued shortly.