Iridium teams with three new partners to expand satellite services in Mexico

BETHESDA, USA & MEXICO CITY: To accelerate growth in the Mexican market, Iridium Communications Inc has signed three additional distribution partners in Mexico. These three new partners supplement the distribution channel for the new "Iridium Mexico" subsidiary (or Iridium Comunicaciones de Mexico S.A.P.I de C.V.) that the company announced on October 21, 2009.

Iridium Mexico is a joint venture between Iridium and Spacenet Communications Services de Mexico SA de CV ("Spacenet"). Iridium services are now available in Mexico through Spacenet, Astrum Comunicaciones, Intercomunicaciones Moviles Satelitales (INMOSAT), and Tecnologias de Control del Norte (TECNOR).

All four Iridium partners, headquartered in Mexico, are actively engaged in the provision of voice and data satellite communications services. Through their Iridium partnerships, these companies now sell the only truly global mobile satellite service (MSS) in Mexico -- and in the world.

Through Iridium Mexico and its newly expanded partner base, the company is offering its innovative product portfolio to the Mexican market, including the Iridium 9555 satellite phone; the Iridium 9601 short burst data modem used for global asset tracking and monitoring; and Iridium OpenPort(R), an enhanced-speed maritime communications service. The Mexican Navy recently installed an Iridium OpenPort unit on its training ship, the Buque Escuela Cuauhtemoc.

"Today's announcement enhances our already solid partnership with Spacenet through Iridium Mexico," said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. "Spacenet, Astrum, Inmosat and Tecnor all have an intimate knowledge of the Mexican market and specialize in particular customers and services that require a high level of expertise. That, coupled with our ability to provide the world's only truly global MSS, provides an optimal communications solution in Mexico."

Through its Mexican partner base, Iridium plans to serve established and emerging markets such as maritime, leisure and commercial fishing, aviation, oil and gas, utilities, agriculture, emergency communications, mining, transportation, government/military and heavy construction.

Demand for this truly global MSS has increased around the world with applications geared toward industries and government agencies that require reliable communications at all times. Iridium's Mexico market entry is particularly important for organizations in the maritime, aviation, land-mobile and machine-to-machine (M2M) markets that need to meet government regulatory obligations.

For example, fishing regulation enforcement requires reliable long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) devices, as well as distress safety systems, on maritime vessels. Aircraft rely on Iridium flight communications systems for safety. In the area of transportation, the Iridium system is effective for tracking the location of vehicles for fleet management and prevention of hijacking.

"When it comes down to fulfilling important regulatory communications requirements, our four Mexican partners selected Iridium to enhance their solution offering, and sometimes replace their current communications service with Iridium due to our reliability track record," said Ted O'Brien, Iridium's vice president for the Americas.

"Our alliance with these well-respected telecommunications leaders meets the needs of a market requiring broader services than were previously available given the country's extensive, open land masses with minimal telecommunications infrastructure, expansive coast lines, growing remote industries, border monitoring issues and the need for effective response tools in natural disasters. Strong demand in Mexico has driven our commitment to the country."

Iridium has demonstrated a very high level of call connectivity and Iridium subscribers take confidence in the company's Network Quality Guarantee. The request for Iridium voice and data services originating in Mexico continues to grow.

Iridium partners continually launch innovative data applications to exploit the power and global reach of the Iridium network. Iridium will continue to form partnerships in Mexico with organizations that demonstrate strategic value and strength in the company's target vertical markets.