I find it impressive how they have evolved from pager to direct-to-cell technology. It’s important to note that while Starlink may be a popular topic of discussion, Globalstar still has a significant presence in the industry.
Globalstar is a well-known name in the satellite communications market.
Hey there! You may have heard about the challenges that Globalstar, the operator of low-orbit satellites that operate at an altitude of approximately 1414 kilometres, faced due to the degradation of S-band transmitters. This caused problems, including the inability to provide voice communication services, and ultimately led to the company’s bankruptcy. However, I wanted to let you know that Globalstar is currently performing well.
After facing some setbacks, including the loss of twelve satellites in a single launch, significant degradation of repeaters in almost all 48 first-generation satellites, three years of bankruptcy, lawsuits, and terminal failures, the world-renowned brand is now making a comeback.
The recipe for success is simple: partner with Apple and implement the new protocol under the auspices of the ZGPP consortium.
However, the second generation of GLOBALSTAR communication satellites deployed by 2013 will soon reach the end of their active life. These satellites have a long-life platform from Thales Alenia Space, lasting up to 15 years. They are about to renew their constellation for new services and business models.
In fact, they have already started the renewal process. Before we dive into the history of the satellite business, let’s explore this topic further.
In the early 90s, while Russians were preoccupied with concerns about food, money, and safety, Americans were figuring out where to allocate their billions.
In 1991, defence company Space Systems Loral Corporation and technology firm Qualcomm formed a startup. Four years later, Globalstar was granted permission to use frequencies, including those used by most smartphones today. This permission played a crucial role in their later deal with Apple, known as the ‘deal of the century’.
1998 was an eventful year! In February, we launched our first satellites and attracted world-class investors such as Alcatel, AirTouch, Hyundai, Vodafone, and Deutsche Aerospace to our closed club, with participants ‘discounting’ $1.8 billion. In September, 12 new satellites were lost due to a computer malfunction on a carrier rocket made in Ukraine and launched by Roscosmos. Then, on 1 November, Qualcomm CEO Irwin Jacobe and Loral Space & Communications CEO Bernard Schwartz made the first satellite call from San Diego to New York. It’s impressive they were able to achieve this after such a setback.
The first generation of GlobalStar satellites was launched with twelve satellites at once, which was criticized as an attempt to keep up with IRIDIUM in the satellite race. However, it is worth noting that today, Starlink launches hundreds of satellites. This move caused shares to plummet and revenue forecasts for the coming year to fall fourfold. However, it’s important to keep in mind that effective communication can greatly impress investors and increase the likelihood of fund allocation and launch insurance. Back in 1999, the first two hundred users successfully tested 48 devices launched into orbit.
It’s worth noting that the satellite conveyor belt was already operational before investors got involved, as the first generation of 550 kg satellites was produced by Loral Space Systems, a 42% shareholder in the project. Sources report that Aerospatiale, Alcatel, Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Thales Alenia Space, Finmeccanica, and Hyundai were all attracted to it.
Unfortunately, due to expensive tariffs, IRIDIUM failed to gather a subscriber base, leading to GlobalStar’s bankruptcy from 2000 to 2002. In 1998, owning a satellite phone cost as much as $8.7 thousand, including the phone, connection, prepayment for services, GSM card, and SIM-card. Hey there! Have you ever wondered what percentage of American space communication operators managed to avoid bankruptcy?
However, after new investors appeared and the orbital constellation began functioning, we encountered an issue. The payload of the satellites, specifically the power amplifiers of the S-band frequencies, showed a decline in performance. We suspect that this deterioration may be caused by the South Atlantic Anomaly, a radiation belt located at an altitude of 1413 km that the satellites frequently pass through. It seems like there may have been some issues with the systems engineering or calculations/stage acceptance, especially considering the number of contractors involved. As a result, the company had to launch eight backup satellites and eventually change its service model from voice to tracking. However, Globalstar engineers and marketing specialists were able to come up with a solution by using the L-band uplink channel on seemingly decommissioned satellites to transmit short messages (9 bytes every 5 minutes) from terrestrial users, similar to Marathon loT. This all happened back in 2007. The basic service gained popularity, and small data packets did not overwhelm communication channels. This led to the development of SPOT, a wearable portable tracker that allows you to send coordinates and messages from anywhere in the world. SPOT was developed in partnership with Axonn LLC.
Globalstar’s website currently offers SPOT rates ranging from $16.95/month to $34.95/month. The difference lies in the guaranteed message delivery interval, which is 10 and 2.5 minutes, respectively. Additionally, there are simplex and duplex terminals available. It’s worth noting that this solution can be particularly useful in remote areas. There are a lot of great options available, like ARI-K in the French Alps and Solara in Canada.
It’s amazing to think that in 2006, Thales Alenia Space signed a $661 million contract to build 24 second-generation Globalstar satellites. By 2013, the entire constellation had been renewed. The Globalstar-2 satellites act as ‘mirror’ repeaters without inter-satellite lines. They weigh 700 kg and have an active lifespan of 15 years. Thales Alenia Space named this platform ELiTeBus-1000 (Extended LifeTime Bus). The IRIDIUM NEXT (second generation) satellites are also made on this platform, although they are heavier at 860 kg. The updated Gonets-M1 has a similar layout. The Globalstar G-2 satellites were launched using several Russian launch vehicles.
Additionally, the second generation GlobalStar satellites were also launched on this platform.
Between 2013 and 2020, industrial and energy corporations helped Globalstar expand its reach, resulting in a significant increase in its subscriber base. In its 32 years of existence, the company has become a telecommunications empire. We have 24 ground gateway stations located in several countries, including 7 in North America (which is a priority market). Additionally, we have 25 spacecraft in orbit, and our company has offices in 120 countries. We are proud to have more than half a million subscribers and offer online platforms and services.
However, with the commercial growth of Starlink, OneWEB, OZBmPOWER, and dozens of other serious projects such as Kuiper, KLEO (Rivada Space Networks), TELESAT, and KEPLER, as well as the strengthening of the power of ‘geostationary’ telecommunication giants, GlobalStar must have carefully considered the future of its business. As the third generation of satellites approaches, GlobalStar is now making some significant moves.
On 23 March 2020, we were thrilled to announce that Globalstar has received permission from the ZGPP Group to use the licensed frequency spectrum (2.4 GHz) in which cellular terrestrial network operators also operate, known as the n53-Band. This exciting development allows our satellites to collaborate with terrestrial operators and integrators in 5G networks.
In 2022, Apple and Globalstar announced an exciting new partnership that will make the SOS service available on the iPhone 14 for users in several countries! This innovative technology, known as direct-to-cell, allows satellites to communicate directly with users’ smartphones. Have you heard the stories about rescuing stranded drivers on snowy mountain passes and accidentally triggering iPhones while riding on rides or motorbike racing? It turns out that falling smartphones can trigger the accelerometer! But don’t worry, the service is now up and running. Plus, there haven’t been any changes in content.
Apple has some exciting news to share! They have recently announced the creation of a $450 million fund to cover 95% of the costs of upgrading ground infrastructure and satellites. This includes a $327 million contract for the creation of 17 new spacecraft under the general contractor MDA, which is a Canadian company that once absorbed Loral Space Corporation. The launch is scheduled for 2025 at a cost of $64 million, and it is expected that Space X will be the launch provider. The satellites are quite expensive, costing almost 20 million each. It’s not entirely clear whether laser terminals are used for inter-satellite communication or if there is another interesting technology being used. The number of satellites in orbit, 1400, is also quite unusual. It’s worth noting that Paul Jacobs, the son of Irwin Jacobs, the former CEO of Globalstar who made the first call, has been the head of Globalstar since August 2023. Additionally, the area boasts some great golf courses!
Most importantly, Apple has announced the long-term lease of 85% of the satellite capacity of the entire orbital constellation, and Globalstar has 300 employees to support the new direct-to-cell technology. The integration of terrestrial and satellite networks is already happening before our eyes.
In terms of marketing, Globalstar has made a brilliant move. However, the organic and gradual growth of the subscriber base in the satellite Internet of Things segment is still years away.
Hey there! Exciting news – the satellite Internet of Things market is about to get a lot more competitive! With the emergence of ground IoT networks and new orbital constellations, including small and nanosatellites, established players like ORBCOMM are going to face some serious challenges to their top spot as a commercial operator.
Our new standard maximizes the potential of the radio frequency spectrum in line with the latest 5G communication technology. We’re proud to have major corporations like Apple as part of our client base, and their significant financial backing and authority is a testament to our success. We’re thrilled to share that we’ve expanded our reach globally! Our focus is on fulfilling the basic need for safety and security, allowing millions of people to locate their loved ones with ease. Thank you for being a part of our journey! Apple chose a regular smartphone instead of a proprietary device the size of a brick. The innovations don’t require a new army of devices, and there’s no need to sell or promote anything. The subscriber base is already secured by billions of sales worldwide.
It’s unclear why Apple chose this route, but it may not be solely because the executives play golf together. The company has done an amazing job building an established satellite constellation, which has helped them grow a global user base. Their ground infrastructure is top-notch, and their experienced team has done a fantastic job growing the business in a competitive market. While there are finite limits to the available tricks and technologies, the frequency resource is the company’s most valuable asset.
Maybe we can start by sending emergency messages and activating ‘pager’ mode in direct-to-cell format. Later on, we will see how Globalstar and Apple will integrate the service of voice calls via satellite to stock smartphones. On 4 December 2023, Starlink announced that it will be testing a radio interface for direct access to smartphones from its upgraded 840-ca GEN-2 spacecraft. The 10-day tests aim to verify electromagnetic compatibility between satellites, ground equipment, and user devices. Additionally, Starlink plans to launch a text messaging service in 2024.
Hey there! Just a quick reminder that some people might have multiple wearable devices, creating a mini-ecosystem. This system can even be connected to a satellite network, which means that information can be transmitted and received in real-time from anywhere in the world. In this scenario, the smartphone acts as a computing hub for a digital replica of an individual. Smart sensors, such as those for temperature, pressure, acceleration, radiation, and humidity, are connected to the smartphone and to each other via short-range wireless technologies like BLE and Bluetooth. The required applications are executed on the smartphone and smart sensors, enabling data exchange with the surrounding environment, including smart homes, cars, streets, and other devices. Perhaps voice communication will endure. Therefore, the partnership between Globalstar and Apple, as well as Starlink’s initiatives, may rely on a more promising marketing strategy than what SOS or SMS services alone would imply. This strategy is aimed towards the future, specifically 2040-2050, when robots, total communication, and AI will define our existence.
The fate of Globalstar is really interesting as they navigate the technological spiral, returning to a service similar to that of 20 years ago. They’ve experienced losses, much like a roller coaster with alternating ups and downs. However, they remain attuned to the needs of society and business, and are aware of current trends.
Well, what do you think? – Write in the comments.
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