- TerreStar Corporation
-
TerreStar Corporation (TSTR), formerly Motient Corp. (MNCP - 2000-2007) and American Mobile Satellite Corp. (AMSC - 1988-2000), was the controlling shareholder of TerreStar Networks Inc. and TerreStar Global Ltd., and a shareholder of SkyTerra Communications.
TerreStar Networks was a Reston, Virginia-based company that operated integrated satellite and terrestrial telecommunications systems. The company declared bankruptcy in 2010 and is now owned by Dish Network.
XM Satellite Radio was a spin off of American Mobile Satellite Corp.
Contents
TerreStar-1
Arianespace launched TerreStar-1 on the morning of July 1, 2009. With a launch mass of 6,910 kg, it has been deemed "the largest commercial telecommunications satellite ever launched." It was built by Space Systems/Loral and was launched from the Guiana Space Center with an Ariane 5 rocket in French Guiana. TerreStar-1 with the plan of providing mobile voice, messaging and data communications services to North America.[1]
Terrestar system is based on GMR standard.
Terrestrial network
On January 14, 2010 TerreStar announced that the Federal Communications Commission had approved the company’s deployment of a terrestrial wireless network using the same S-band frequencies used by TerreStar-1.[2]
Bankruptcy Restructuring with EchoStar
In October 2010, TerreStar filed for a "prepackaged" bankruptcy, led by its largest secured creditor, EchoStar. Together the secured creditors exchanged $940 million of debt for about 97 percent of the company. The plan, along with $75 million of debtor-in-possession financing was approved in November 2010.[3] In December 2010, an NPO called "A Human Right" mounted an effort to buy the satellite for use over Africa, with basic free internet service for those who don't have it, and internet access for nations that have cut off international internet connections.[4][5]
On August 22, 2011, Dish Network asked the Federal Communications Commission to let the company use the wireless spectrum of TerreStar to offer its own wireless broadband service.[6]
References
- ^ "Ariane 5 soars to another heavy-lift success in lofting the TerreStar-1 mobile communications satellite". Arianespace. July 1, 2009. http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2009/609.asp.
- ^ Peter B. de Selding (01/14/10). "FCC Approves TerreStar Terrestrial Network". Space News. http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/2010-01-14-fcc-approves-terrestar-terrestrial-network.html.
- ^ David McLaughlin (Nov 17, 2010). "EchoStar's $75 Million Bankruptcy Loan to TerreStar Wins Judge's Approval". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-16/echostar-s-75-million-bankruptcy-loan-to-terrestar-wins-judge-s-approval.html. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ Fields, Jim (01-31-2011). "As Egypt Shuts Down the Internet, One Group Wants Online Access for All". Time Magazine (Time, Inc.). http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2045428,00.html. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ Fox, Zoe (02-02-2011). "Looking to Aid Egyptians? Perhaps You Want to "Buy This Satellite"". Time Magazine (Time, Inc.). http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/02/02/looking-to-aid-egyptians-perhaps-you-want-to-buy-this-satellite/. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ "Boeing 787 nears debut". The Sun News. 2011-08-25. http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/08/23/2347277/business-briefs.html. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
See also
- TerreStar Networks
- ICO Global Communications
- O3b
- Solaris Mobile
- SkyTerra
- Satellite phone
External links
- Terrestar Corporation
- TerreStar Networks
- Terrestar Global
- NSDDC Master Catalog - TerreStar 1 - 2009-035A
- NSSDC SPACEWARN Bulletin - TerreStar 1 - 2009-035A
- AT&T Integrated Cellular-Satellite Solution
- AT&T Announces Agreement with TerreStar to Offer Integrated Cellular/Satellite Solution
- Buy This Satellite - website for A Human Right
- TerreStar-1 Composite Beam footprint(s) at SatBeams
Categories:- Companies based in Reston, Virginia
- Satellite telephony
- United States telecommunications company stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
