Globalstar Receives France Government Authorization To Utilize Frequencies, Launch And Operate Its Previously Announced C-3 Mobile Satellite Services System

These authorizations reflect the continued cooperation between Globalstar and the Republic of France, ensuring that Globalstar’s satellite systems maintain operations in compliance with applicable national regulations and the global regulatory framework established through the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), as has been done for over twenty-five years.

The Ministry for Digital has authorized Globalstar’s C-3 operations over the entirety of the Big LEO MSS band for 20 years.  The Ministry for Space has authorized Globalstar to launch and operate the C-3 space segment for its entire design life of 13 years.

Notified to the ITU by the Republic of France under the name AST-NG-C-3, the C-3 System will comprise 48 LEO satellites operating at an altitude of 1414 kilometers along with 6 in-orbit spares, supported by 89 six-meter ground station antennas installed around the world to usher in a next generation of global D2D connectivity.  The C-3 System will be commanded and controlled from Globalstar’s dedicated Satellite Operations Control Center (SOCC) located in Toulouse, France, along with a U.S. facility located at Globalstar’s corporate headquarters in Covington, Louisiana.  

France’s authorizations confirm growing international regulatory momentum for Globalstar’s C-3 system, which has now received authorization to operate in more than 20 countries, including a recent authorization from Germany. Together, these approvals represent markets with a combined population of more than one billion people.