Inmarsat is also entering a new field, the fixed satellite business ("fixed" refers to the customer, not the satellite) and will access very-small-aperture terminals (VSATs) of the type maintained by fixed satellite service purveyors like Intelsat.

FORBES: Down To Earth

In the late 1990s, they turned Mr Wu's ministry into a regulator and split the operations into four companies one each for fixed-line, mobile, paging and satellite services.

ECONOMIST: The world's fastest telecoms restructuring

But customers of Gilat Satellite Networks of Israel are already buying fixed phones tied to geostationary satellites (which hover 38, 000 kilometers above the earth, versus 1, 350 kilometers for Globalstar).

FORBES: Surviving Iridium

From broadband Internet to latest-generation wireless technologies, from aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio astronomy and satellite-based meteorology, from convergence in fixed-mobile phone, Internet access, data, voice and TV broadcasting to next-generation networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world.

UNESCO: Post-Conflict and Post-Disaster Responses

The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and Internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.

ENGADGET: Gogo spreads its in-flight WiFi wings further with SES satellite deal