Annex 3 The Iridium Global Mobile-Satellite System 1 Introduction 1.1 Iridium Satellite LLC owns and operates a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) system providing fully global digital communications. The major components of the Iridium mobile-satellite system are: 1.1.1 The space segment, consisting of 66 operational satellites and additional in-orbit spare satellites; 1.1.2 The ground segment, consisting of satellite teleports (“teleports”) for the transfer of voice and data communications between the gateways and the satellite constellation, and gateways which provide connection to terrestrial voice and data networks; and 1.1.3 Mobile earth stations, which consist of a satellite modem, which is incorporated into a commercial product, and an externally installed antenna. 1.2 The satellite constellation provides the communication between the user terminals and the teleport(s), which are interconnected to the gateways. The gateways serve as the switching center, routing all communications into and from terrestrial networks, such as the PSTN. The gateway also locates, identifies and tracks subscribers for mobility management, and records user activity for billing purposes. 1.3 These components are illustrated in Figure 7 below:
Annex 3 The Iridium Global Mobile-Satellite System 1 Introduction 1.1 Iridium Satellite LLC owns and operates a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) system providing fully global digital communications. The major components of the Iridium mobile-satellite system are: 1.1.1 The space segment, consisting of 66 operational satellites and additional in-orbit spare satellites; 1.1.2 The ground segment, consisting of satellite teleports (“teleports”) for the transfer of voice and data communications between the gateways and the satellite constellation, and gateways which provide connection to terrestrial voice and data networks; and 1.1.3 Mobile earth stations, which consist of a satellite modem, which is incorporated into a commercial product, and an externally installed antenna. 1.2 The satellite constellation provides the communication between the user terminals and the teleport(s), which are interconnected to the gateways. The gateways serve as the switching center, routing all communications into and from terrestrial networks, such as the PSTN. The gateway also locates, identifies and tracks subscribers for mobility management, and records user activity for billing purposes. 1.3 These components are illustrated in Figure 7 below:
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