Partner Communications (Nasdaq: PTNR; TASE:PTNR; LSE:PCCD) has signed a roaming agreement with Iridium Satellite LLC enabling calls from anywhere on earth.
Partner is the first company in the world to offer roaming services with Iridium. The launch of the services will enable Orange network subscribers to make and receive calls and SMS messages using their personal number at any point on earth. Partner will begin leasing satellite devices in a few months.
Iridium operates 66 satellites for its communications network.
A satellite telephone with the subscriber's personal SIM card is needed to use the network. Provided the user has a direct line of sight to the heavens, Iridium can serve an Orange subscriber in the same manner as GSM networks worldwide already do.
Iridium is an international consortium led by Boeing (NYSE:BA). Its customers include leading shipping companies and the US Army, which bought 25,000 devices.
Gaya Com represents Iridium in Israel. It began marketing Iridium products in September 2001, as well as providing telephony network and value added satellite communications services.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on December 3, 2003