Boeing secured its largest satellite contract in nine years today in a deal with Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) for three satellites and associated ground systems.
Financial details of the deal are sketchy, but Boeing says this is the largest commercial satellite order it has booked since 1997. The deal is for three Boeing-built geo-mobile satellites for use with MSV's planned first commercial mobile satellite service. The network, based on MSV's ancillary terrestrial component technology, will deliver voice and data coverage throughout North and South America. Boeing will also develop ground-based systems that will provide advanced beam forming flexibility and interference cancellation unprecedented in commercial satellite systems."Boeing's 40-year heritage in the satellite industry and vast experience in the mobile satellite arena will prove invaluable in the construction of our next generation satellites," says MSV chief executive Alexander Good.
MSV-1 and MSV-2 satellites will cover Canada, the USA, Mexico and the Caribbean. The third satellite, MSV-SA will cover South America. The satellites are scheduled to be launched in 2009 and 2010.
Source: Flight International