COVINGTON, La., Sept. 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globalstar, Inc . (NYSE MKT:GSAT) today announced that, in partnership with Broadband Botswana Internet (BBi), construction has commenced on a Globalstar gateway in Gaborone, Botswana. This gateway will provide Globalstar's full line of Simplex services, including its SPOT line of affordable personal tracking and life-saving solutions, as well as its line of commercial Simplex tracking and monitoring solutions. Globalstar anticipates that this gateway will be operational by the end of this year and will provide coverage across southern Africa, including the following countries and surrounding blue-ocean areas: Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Swaziland, Lesotho, Malawi, Angola, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia. The gateway significantly extends Globalstar's coverage in sub-Saharan Africa and will allow Globalstar to provide a near-global service offering for SPOT and Simplex services.
Sub-Saharan Africa represents a significant new market opportunity and will serve a region with increasing demands for affordable connectivity. With a limited wireline telecommunications network and a highly fragmented cellular infrastructure, Globalstar's satellite services provide a compelling solution for seamless tracking, monitoring and emergency services. Globalstar will initially target mining and oil & gas applications, personal assets, commercial trucking and animal tracking markets.
"We believe that southern Africa is a significant untapped market for our traditional MSS solutions and we thank our partner at BBi for all of their efforts to make this opportunity a reality," said Jay Monroe, Chairman and CEO of Globalstar. "Whether you are going to southern Africa on a safari, work assignment, or to perform humanitarian work, the ability to let your friends, family or colleagues know that you are "ok", or to summon emergency assistance if you are not, will be only a button-push away. Additionally, for the first time, people and industries in the local area will have access to affordable satellite solutions for personal and asset tracking and we look forward to bringing this service live in just a few months."
About Globalstar, Inc.
Globalstar is a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services. Globalstar offers these services to government, commercial and recreational users in more than 120 countries around the world. The Company's products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, Simplex and Duplex satellite data modems and flexible service packages. Many land based and maritime industries benefit from Globalstar with increased productivity from remote areas beyond cellular and landline service. Globalstar customer segments include: oil and gas, government, mining, forestry, commercial fishing, utilities, military, transportation, heavy construction, emergency preparedness and business continuity as well as individual recreational users. Globalstar data solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data monitoring and SCADA applications.
About SPOT LLC
SPOT LLC, a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., provides affordable satellite communication and tracking devices for recreational use. SPOT Global Phone uses the Globalstar network to transmit two-way voice and data communications. SPOT messaging devices use both the GPS satellite network and the Globalstar network to transmit text messages and GPS coordinates. Since 2007, SPOT has provided peace of mind by allowing customers to remain in contact completely independent of cellular coverage, having initiated over 3,000 rescues worldwide. For more information, visit FindMeSPOT.com .
Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. SPOT Connect is a trademark of Spot LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For media information please contact: Brad Grantham Peter Mayer 225.215.4483
