FCC Grants Globalstar Authority for C-3 Satellite System
Globalstar received FCC authorization to operate its third-generation C-3 satellite system, enabling direct-to-device connectivity for smartphones across the United States.
The Federal Communications Commission granted Globalstar, Inc. nationwide authority to operate its third-generation C-3 Mobile Satellite Services system. The C-3 system enables direct-to-device connectivity, allowing satellites to communicate with hundreds of millions of mobile terminals, including smartphones, throughout the United States.
The authorization includes the deployment of ground station antennas in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. The constellation will consist of 48 low Earth orbit satellites and six spares, with launches scheduled to begin in 2027. MDA Space in Canada is manufacturing the satellites, while operations will be managed from control centers in Covington, Louisiana, and Toulouse, France.
Globalstar CEO Paul E. Jacobs stated that the FCC authorization is a critical step for enhancing the capabilities of the company's satellite constellations. L. Barbee Ponder, General Counsel and Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, noted that the system is truly global, utilizing international manufacturing and control centers to support the communications needs of a global public.
