Iridium and Telstra Sign Deal

Iridium Satellite LLC announced that Australia's Telstra Corporation Limited has signed a service partner agreement to market and sell Iridium services. The multi-year deal enables Telstra to retail Iridium services and equipment to strengthen rural and remote communications throughout Australia. Both parties anticipate a new level of interest in Iridium services across the continent's rural and remote regions. Iridium Satellite's CEO, Gino Picasso, said high costs previously posed a major barrier to those entering the satellite services market. Eighty-six percent of the world's landmass and all of its oceans are in areas without wireless or landline service coverage. Iridium addresses the situation by providing coverage in all ocean areas, air routes, and landmasses, including the Poles. For people who live, work and travel in areas outside cellular coverage or in areas without landline services, Iridium offers an immediate, viable solution. Telstra will provide Iridium services on a non-exclusive basis in Australia. The company will work closely with its Asia Pacific market coordinator, Quadrant Communications, to market and sell Iridium services including voice, data and text messaging. Telstra will also support the entire range of specialty equipment built for use with the Iridium system.