/ 9 February 1999

GLOBALSTAR EARTH STATION

GLOBALSTAR, the global satellite communication group, has completed an earth station worth R150-million in North-West province ahead of the launch of its 48 satellites designed to provide global telecommunication coverage. The firm plans to begin offering services later this year in partnership with Vodacom. The service will be only the second global telecommunications service available in the world. Iridium’s competing service has aligned itself with MTN in South Africa. Globalstar South Africa will be incorporated as a South African firm by the end of the month, said Ben Higson, its director.