Global Telecoms Business Innovation Award Granted for Iridium OpenPort®

BETHESDA, Md. and CAMBRIDGE, England, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium) and Cambridge Consultants are proud to announce that Global Telecoms Business (GTB) magazine has awarded its prestigious 2009 GTB Innovation Award to the two companies for excellence in the Wireless Network Infrastructure Innovation category. The award recognizes the groundbreaking Iridium OpenPort® system, which is the world's first and only global high-speed voice and data service for the maritime market.

With its small footprint and light weight, the Iridium OpenPort omni-directional antenna array can be quickly installed in any convenient location on deck. It does not require a stabilization platform and is virtually maintenance free. With no moving parts, the array reduces the risk of failure or downtime and lowers the total cost of operations. Iridium OpenPort delivers up to three phone lines for simultaneous use and features always-on data with speeds up to 128 kbps - on an all-IP backbone.

"We are delighted to be recognized as a world leader in wireless innovation along with our partners at Cambridge Consultants," said Matt Desch, chief executive officer of Iridium. "It reflects the innovation behind Iridium OpenPort as it delivers a total maritime communications solution, providing a reliable link for anyone operating in one of the world's most unpredictable environments. It also reflects the hard work and dedication of our key design and development partner, Cambridge Consultants, who worked with us to develop this truly differentiating product."

Cambridge Consultants, an international technology company with one of the world's largest independent wireless development teams, has provided services to Iridium since 2003.

"Our multidisciplinary expertise in wireless technology and engineering has enabled us to act as a virtual R&D department for our partners at Iridium," explained Richard Traherne, director of Cambridge Consultants' Wireless Division. "This relationship has provided Iridium with flexible access to world-class skills across a wide range of different disciplines - all under one roof. This award is a demonstration of Iridium's pioneering success and ability to provide total global communications solutions."

Organized annually by GTB, the Innovation Awards are designed to honor innovative projects involving telecoms operators and service providers around the world, in association with their vendors and suppliers. Iridium and Cambridge Consultants joined 300 other telecommunication industry leaders from around the world at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London, U.K. on June 16, 2009. Keynote speakers at the event included: Holly Kramer of Telstra, Dr. Saad Al-Barrak of Zain, and Nick Jeffery of Vodafone Global Enterprise. The ceremony was sponsored by Juniper Networks and Hewlett-Packard.

"We were impressed by the quality and number of nominations this year - the most we have ever had - so it was a special triumph to be one of the winners this year," said Alan Burkitt-Gray, editor of GTB. "Iridium OpenPort is an outstanding project and well deserves its award."

About Iridium Satellite LLC

Iridium Satellite LLC (www.iridium.com) is the only mobile satellite service (MSS) company offering coverage over the entire globe. The Iridium constellation of low-earth orbiting (LEO), cross-linked satellites provides critical voice and data services for areas not served by terrestrial communication networks. Iridium's subscriber growth has been driven by increasing demand for reliable, global communications. Iridium serves commercial markets through a worldwide network of hundreds of distributors, and provides services to the U.S. Department of Defense, and other U.S. and international government agencies. The company's customers represent a broad spectrum of industry, including maritime, aeronautical, government/defense, public safety, utilities, oil/gas, mining, forestry, heavy equipment and transportation. Iridium has launched a major development program for its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT, which will result in continued and new Iridium MSS offerings. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md. and is currently privately held.

About Cambridge Consultants

Cambridge Consultants develops breakthrough products, creates and licenses intellectual property, and provides business consultancy in technology-critical issues for clients worldwide. For nearly 50 years, the company has enabled its clients to turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether launching first-to-market products, entering new markets or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies. With a team of over 300 engineers, designers, scientists and consultants in offices in Cambridge (U.K.) and Boston (U.S.), Cambridge Consultants offers solutions across a diverse range of industries including medical technology, industrial and consumer products, transport, energy, cleantech and wireless communications. In 2009, the company was awarded the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade. For more information visit: www.cambridgeconsultants.com.

Cambridge Consultants is part of Altran, the European leader in innovation and high technology consulting. The Group's 17,500 consultants, operating worldwide, cover the entire range of engineering specialties, including electronics, information technology, quality and organization. Altran offers its clients ongoing support throughout the innovation cycle, from technology watch, applied basic research and management consulting to industrial systems engineering and information systems. The Group provides services to most industries, including the automotive, aeronautics, space, life sciences and telecommunications sectors. Founded in 1982, Altran operates in 20 priority countries. In 2008, it generated a turnover of euro 1,650 million. For more information visit: www.altran.com.

SOURCE: Iridium Satellite LLC

Web site: http://www.iridium.com/