A third eye in the sky
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June 17, 1997: 7:16 a.m. ET
Motorola plans to develop third satellite communications network
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Motorola Inc. said it plans to develop a $12.9-billion satellite network designed to deliver high-speed data and video to international media and telecommunications companies.
The venture represents Motorola's third and most ambitious foray into the satellite business. It comes less than two months after rival satellite concern Teledesic Corp. turned to Boeing Co. rather than the Schaumburg, Ill.-based communications giant to supply equipment for its 288-satellite network.
Officials at Teledesic, which is backed by wireless pioneer Craig McCaw, told the Wall Street Journal they believe Motorola's latest venture is designed to compete directly with Teledesic in light of the lost contract -- a charge that Motorola denies.
In addition to Teledesic, Motorola would also compete with Alcatel-Alsthom SA and Loral Space and Communications Ltd., a unit of Loral Corp.
Motorola is already involved in two other satellite systems: a $5-billion global voice and paging system called Iridium and a planned $6.1-billion video system called M-Star.
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Motorola
Teledesic
Boeing
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