Iridium Satellite announces it has released a Request for Information (RFI) to potential partners interested in participating in the design, development and deployment of “Iridium NEXT,” the company’s next-generation satellite communications network.
Iridium said a key design requirement for NEXT will be to maintain the “life line” attributes of its current service, including pole-to-pole coverage, security, availability and reliability. NEXT will also provide extended services beyond those offered today, from high-bandwidth data transmission to enhanced voice and short messaging services for commercial and government users. In addition, Iridium will engineer NEXT to support innovative space-based applications.
Iridium expects the RFI process will lead to supplier partner selections in 2008 and 2009.
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