A constellation of satellites, owned by London-based New ICO (formerly ICO Global Communications, now part of Teledesic), which is component of a new global mobile communications system. The system will support digital data and voice services and the satellite equivalent of third-generation (3G) wireless, including wireless Internet and other packet-data services. Ten satellites plus two spares will make up the constellation, operating an altitude of 10,390 km and divided equally between two planes, each inclined at 45° to the equator and at right angles to the other, to provide complete, continuous overlapping coverage of the globe. The satellites will communicate with terrestrial networks through ICONet, a high-bandwidth global Internet Protocol network, consisting of 12 Earth stations around the world, connected via high-speed links. ICO aimed to launch commercial satellite services late in 2003.
Related entry communications satellites
Related category SATELLITES AND SPACE PROBES
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