General Partner, Globalstar L.P.
3200 Zanker Road
P.O. Box 640670
San Jose, CA 95164 USA
Tel: (408) 473-7145
Fax: (408) 473-5548
E-mail: john.cunningham@globalstar.loral.com
News
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Jeanette Clonan
+1.212.338.5658 |
Globalstar Shareholder Letter
August 12, 1997
Dear Shareholder,
I am pleased to report that Globalstar is making substantial progress on all fronts. As
our activities accelerate in anticipation of our first scheduled launch in early December
1997, we are meeting all of the milestones we set for ourselves in order to initiate
global telecommunications service in late 1998.
From space and ground system deployment and in- country license procurements, to
financing and market development efforts around the world, we continue to hit our targets.
Our enthusiasm and confidence in the Globalstar system have never been higher.
The following highlights some key developments over the past few months:
- Globalstar in Russia - Globalstar, Loral and the largest Russian
telecommunications operator, Rostelcom JSC, signed an agreement that will bring access to
Globalstar's advanced telephony services for hundreds of thousands of Russians beginning
in late 1998. The agreement, which establishes GlobalTel, a joint stock company, to act as
exclusive provider of Globalstar services in Russia, solidifies Globalstar's leadership in
that country and advances our strategy to provide satellite-based services throughout the
world.
- Globalstar in Colombia - Globalstar service providers France Telecom and Alcatel,
in a joint venture known as TE.SA.M. (Telecommunications par Satellites Mobiles), teamed
with Telecom Colombia to form a joint-owned company, TE.SA.M. Colombia S.A. This new
company will be the exclusive service provider of Globalstar mobile telecommunications
products and services in Colombia, South America. Globalstar has established franchises
with local service providers in 105 countries to date.
- Licensing - Service provider activity has been high with 19 countries to date
having granted required local licensing. Most recently, Globalstar Canada was issued
approval by Industry Canada, a government agency, to provide Globalstar services
throughout Canada. We see no impediment to completing the task of securing the necessary
additional licenses in time for initiation of service in late 1998.
- Gateways - Globalstar partners placed an order totaling $275 million with
QUALCOMM for 35 gateways to be installed ready to provide Globalstar service worldwide by
the end of 1998. QUALCOMM continues to perform in an outstandingmanner in support of our
program and the development and installation of the ground system.
Further evidence of
our commitment to the timely initiation of Globalstar service is the status of
pre-production gateway construction. Of the four pre-production gateways — in France,
South Korea, Australia and Texas — three sites are ready for launch support; one is
nearing completion and is undergoing testing. The completed gateways have been linked to
the Globalstar operations control center (GOCC) in San Jose via the Globalstar data
network. These four gateways will support the launch had subsequent testing of our first
four satellites.
- Satellites - Sufficient hardware is now on hand to warrant around-the-clock
integration and test operations at Alenia Spazio's assembly facility in Rome. To date,
four flight models have completed integration and assembly in Rome and are in final
testing, well in advance of our first scheduled launch date.
- Financing - In June, Globalstar reached 90 percent of its project financing —
$2.3 billion raised of the $2.5 billion required — by selling $325 million of 11-1/4%
senior notes due 2004 in a private offering, furthering our steady progress in financing
the construction and deployment of the Globalstar system. We are encouraged by the
positive reception our financing efforts have received; it validates our own belief that
Globalstar is regarded as the preeminent system designed to provide wireless telephony by
satellite.
Looking ahead, Globalstar is on track for production of user terminals and rolling out
the first gateways. After our initial launch of satellites, we will commence system tests,
and then continue launches throughout 1998.
To that end, launch support to the program is on track. The Delta II launch failure
earlier this year involving an Air Force satellite was analyzed by the U.S. Air Force and
McDonnell Douglas, and corrective actions have been verified by three consecutive
successful launches. The team for the Zenit launcher, which will loft three payloads of 12
satellites each, has completed development of all the modifications needed to begin these
launches in May 1998. Our launch schedule provides a certain amount of redundancy to
compensate for potential launch failures, bolstering our confidence that the Globalstar
program will stay on schedule.
I hope you share our excitement about Globalstar. When we embarked on this project
seven years ago, we recognized that while the risks were high, so were the rewards. As we
enter Globalstar's operational phase, having met all challenges to date, I'm increasingly
confident that this business opportunity will deliver great value not only to our
subscribers but to our shareholders as well.
Sincerely,
Bernard L. Schwartz
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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