A Lockheed Martin team led by its Astro Space unit has signed a $650m contract to build a complete mobile telephone communications system for the Asia Cellular Satellite system. The ACeS consortium, which includes PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara of Indonesia, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Jasmine International Plc of Thailand, intends to provide voice, facsimile and pager services via new geostationary satellites to hand-held mobile and fixed terminals throughout Southeast Asia, India and China. The system will enable a person to use the same mobile phone and Groupe Speciale Mobile-based phone number in some 14 Asian countries. The organisation further claims that the dual-mode telephone will operate with Groupe Speciale Mobile and AMPS cellular systems throughout the world, as well as with the Asia Cellular Satellite System. L M Ericsson Telefon AB has been named the developer for the Groupe Speciale Mobile cellular telephone handsets. The Astro Space contract also includes options for additional satellites that could, if exercised, significantly increase the value of the programme. Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, will perform overall systems engineering and integration and provide the full ground architecture. According to Adi Adiwoso, president director of PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara and chief executive of the project, the consortium’s funding for the full project is in place and it is ready to start building the system. Launch of the first satellite is planned for 1998, with service beginning a few months thereafter; no pricing details have been given.
